Teaching your child to be more environmentally conscious

Last Updated on 24 March 2023 by Heavensa

“The world is your oyster”, is that not what was taught to us as kids? Whilst this saying is used to explain to little ones that they are free to do anything in the world that has been provided, as always, there are limits to how this phrase should be perceived. As parents, you will always teach your child to look at the world as a place full of opportunity. However, it is vital to help them understand that the world must also be taken care of along the way. With the increase of climate change, it has become more important than ever to teach little ones that their actions impact people as well as the Earth. To help you on this journey, here is some advice on teaching your child to be more environmentally conscious. 

Model good behaviour 

One of the easiest and most impactful ways to help your child understand the severity of being kind to the environment, is by setting an example yourself. Children build habits based off what they see as they grow up. If they notice that you waste food and water regularly or use the car for short distances, they will end up believing that this behaviour is normal and start practicing it themselves. As soon as your child is born, model environmentally conscious ways of living to ensure that they build habits that impact their current and future situations positively. 

Show them what the outdoors is all about

Of course, in order to show your child the importance of the environment, they need to be surrounded by it to help them understand it better. The best way to help your little one build a connection with the Earth, is to introduce them to the wonders that it holds. This can be done by taking hikes, visiting the deep ocean or simply taking care of your back garden, perhaps getting them Slamm Scooters and letting them explore themselves too!

Small activities that can be done regularly are picnics in the park, where both you and your child can take the time to absorb the benefits of nature. Allowing your child to climb trees, bike through the forest and swim in lakes, will help them build a stronger connection with the outdoors, leading to a child that is more environmentally conscious.

Teach them about where things go

The majority of children are fascinated by bin day as there are big trucks driving through the neighbourhood. However, the final destination of the rubbish and the truck are usually unknown to them. Take this time to explain to your child where rubbish goes after it is picked up and how it affects the planet. This is a great opportunity to teach your little one about recycling and composting too. If they are old enough, engage them in the process of separating the recycling and adding to the compost. Additionally, you can take occasional trips to the dump, as it is a great way to help broaden your child’s understanding of the severity of waste in today’s world.

Start practicing energy efficiency at home

Naturally, your child will spend most of their time at home. Usually this means that they are a lot more laidback and won’t pay as much attention to how they treat their environment. However, anything practiced and perfected at home, will be practiced in school and other situations too. Talk to them about how easily you can save energy and resources on a daily basis. Remind your child to not leave the tap running whilst they brush their teeth or take showers for extended periods of time. Train them to switch lights off in rooms that are not being used and to unplug devices overnight. Small habits that are built while they are young, will only get stronger as they grow older.