It’s never too early to start talking to kids about sustainability and respecting the planet. Children instinctively gravitate towards nature and enjoy learning about environmental stewardship, especially when it’s presented through engaging, hands-on, interactive activities that help them see the direct impact of their actions. Even preschoolers can be taught that their voice matters and they can protect the world through simple household habits and routines. Informing kids about sustainability isn’t a luxury but an essential part of parenting and teaching the next generation life skills about stewardship of the earth.
Sustainability doesn’t have to be a complicated concept. Adults can explain that we all want to enjoy a slice of the pie but need to make sure there’s enough left for everyone who comes after us. Make sustainability about empowerment instead of fear. Kids might not be able to grasp the concept of global warming, and talking about polar bears dying is overwhelming, but they can understand that turning the light off or taking five minute showers saves energy and water. Kids can be planet protectors and earth heroes!
Here are some ideas for increasing eco-consciousness to the younger members of our community. Kids can do these independently, in a family, at school, or anywhere.
Read books about it
A time-honored way to kick-off young children’s awareness about anything is to read them books on the topic. Check out these children's books on sustainability, even for preschoolers, that help kids understand the big picture and provide practical tips for how they can help.
Use less water
Teach kids that turning off the faucet when brushing their teeth or washing their face adds up and saves water. Even one person doing so, says the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge can save 1,500 gallons per year! Kids can also keep an eye out for faucet leaks to prevent wasting water. One lightbulb moment that may increase their awareness on just how much water they use while bathing is doing that simple experiment where one day they take a bath, note the level of water, and another day take a shower with the tub plugged so they can compare how much water they used for each. Challenge kids to take shorter showers and impress them with the “navy shower” mode of water conservation. (Naval ships have limited fresh water and might limit showers to 3 gallons of water under 2 minutes!) Statistics like that might be a little extreme but will get them thinking. For instance, according to the EPA, we could save 170 billion gallons of water if every person in the United States reduced their shower time by one just minute! Shorter showers don’t just save water but the energy required to heat the water as well!
It bears repeating that single-use water bottles are terrible for the environment. Have your kids choose their own special reusable BPA-free water bottle and personalize it with stickers. Many kids love the ocean and can appreciate the dangers of plastic litter in our waterways and its impact on wildlife. Purchase metal straws to keep in glove compartments or back packs and teach kids to politely decline plastic straws at restaurants, cafes, drive-throughs, etc.
Use less energy AND cleaner energy
Teach kids that using less energy helps the environment as a whole, conserves energy, and prevents greenhouse gases, which cause climate change. A few years ago, SCOCO published the article, How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change Without Scaring Them.
Even young kids can learn to turn off the light switch, TV, and other electronics at home when they’re not in the room.
Older kids can unplug appliances or devices that don’t need to be charging in order to save energy from outlets. They can also use rechargeable batteries vs. disposable versions.
Encourage kids to ride bikes to school if it’s safe and they are old enough to do so. On weekends, walk or ride bicycles, and use BART or other public transportation together as a family when possible -- or even occasionally.
Bring your kids’ attention to your family’s decision to opt for car pools that get them to school, and consider using trains and buses for family vacations if possible.
Explain to your children why you traded in your gas automobile for a plug-in electric or hybrid vehicle.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Teach kids that recycling is really important because it saves natural resources, reduces pollution, conserves energy, creates jobs, and fights climate change. Teaching kids vocabulary words pertaining to sustainability empowers them to put concrete labels on actions and communicate their commitment to being environmental to others.
Have kids take simple quizzes like this recycling quiz and share these fun recycling facts, like the average person creates almost five pounds worth of trash per day. Or that a steel can recycled today can be back on a store shelf as a new can in less than 60 days.
Bring attention to using reusable containers instead of plastic ones in lunch boxes so they can learn about microplastic exposure and the relationship between personal health and the environment.
Replace paper towels and napkins and use cloth ones instead -- even in lunch boxes!
Put kids in charge of remembering to grab reusable cloth bags before going into stores – all kinds of stores, not just groceries.
Involve kids in sorting through clothes they’ve outgrown. Have them help box up gently used clothing, books, and toys, and tag along with you to take them to donation centers, libraries, etc. so they are part of the process. The perils of “fast fashion” is an important topic, especially for pre-teens and teens wanting to be on-trend.
Shop at local places like Play it Again Sports in Pleasant Hill when looking for sporting equipment.
Check out garage sales for toys. Swap toys, games, books, etc. with friends, and use the library too.
For birthday parties
Kids can make their own birthday/holiday cards and wrapping paper. It’s a creative activity and more personal too!
Forego single-use decorations like balloons and streamers as well as paper products like paper tablecloths, plates, cups, etc., and use or borrow reusable items.
Shop more sustainably. Explain how every new toy takes energy to manufacture, package, and distribute. Teach kids to shop for eco-friendly toys and arts and crafts that aren’t made of plastic but rather wood, cloth, cotton, bamboo, natural rubber, and plant fibers.
Choose nature based games and crafts. Buy products with less packaging.
Teach kids about why shopping locally saves enery and helps the local economy. Parents can choose more eco-friendly shipping options that delay shipping only by a day or so.
Get out in nature.
Many kids nowadays are “green deprived.” Urge them to go outside as often as possible so they develop a respect for nature and appreciation for safeguarding the environment.
Children will enjoy watching birds and other wildlife come to trays of water they've left in their yard at home or on the balcony. When bees are active in warmer seasons, they can add rocks to shallow pans for bees to perch on. Explain why “leaving the leaves” in your yard provides critical winter habitat, food, and protective insulation for moths, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Fallen leaves protect chrysalises and cocoons from freezing temperatures and allow many species to hibernate before safely emerging in the spring
Kids naturally gravitate towards animals. Teach kids about animals and how to respect their habitats. Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek is the perfect field trip for kids to learn about wildlife habitats and the importance of sharing space with our fellow beings.
Do small container gardening in your yard, porch, or windowsill. Plant seeds for herbs, flowers, or veggies. Care for wildlife by picking up litter while out on walks or hikes.
Kids can make art with fallen leaves, flowers, and twigs. Making leaf rubbings is a fun and simple activity to do with crayons, watercolor paint, paper, and leaves.
Collect rainwater in buckets outdoors and use it to water indoor plants. (Tap water contains fluoride and chloride.)
Making a simple compost bin helps kids learn about decomposition and the cycle of eating and using scraps for growing food vs. overcrowding landfills.
Get them involved with making simple non-toxic cleansers. They can recycle a spray bottle and use it for a homemade all-purpose cleaner made out of 1 cup water + 1/4 cup vinegar + 20 drops of lemon or orange essential oil.
OR make a scrub out of 1 ½ cups baking soda + ½ cup castile soap + 10 drops of essential oil.
Eat more sustainably
Kids will be amazed by the statistic that people waste 30 – 40% of their food.
Shop with kids at farmers’ markets to teach them about shopping locally for fresher, more nutritious (and tasty!) food, while supporting local retailers and the economy.
Teach children to "eat lower on the food chain" by reducing red meat in favor of fish or chicken more often to help reduce their carbon footprint. Explain why vegetarian and vegan foods are even more helpful. Let them help choose a meatless or vegan meal and make “Meatless Monday” a weekly habit. Serving veggie burgers (e.g. Impossible Burgers) with all the fixings drives home the point that meatless meals can be filling, healthy, appealing, and delicious!
Spread the word.
Encourage older kids to get involved in clubs and organizations (or start one themselves) so they can join forces and have fun with other like-minded individuals. SCOCO’s own youth-led branch, Sustainable Leaders in Action provides young activists with opportunities for professional development and camaraderie.
Kubrio's "How to Teach Sustainability to Kids: The Complete Parents' Guide" provides practical tips and fun activities for kids aged 6 – 13 without sounding preachy or intimidating.
Sources and further reading:
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
https://arteviva.com/17-fun-ways-to-teach-children-about-sustainability/
https://www.recyclebycity.com/blog/sustainability-for-kids-10-easy-activities
https://kubrio.com/blog/what-is-sustainability-for-kids
https://www.cleanercontracosta.org/
Replies