Raising GREEN Kids
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These days, most kids are spending too much time indoors in front of computers, televisions and video games.
Even outdoor time is often spent in a structured manner, playing sports or spending an afternoon at the swimming pool or amusement park. In order to appreciate nature and the environment, kids must be given opportunities to interact with the natural world around them.
Much of what children learn about the environment comes from the television. Often the messages they are receiving are biased by activists with a “doomsday” view of the earth’s future. There is no need to scare kids with big environmental issues and theories about global warming and a doomed planet. Lessons about the environment should start in their own backyard, school, neighborhood parks, gardens, and wildlife areas.
The best way to teach your kids to care about and respect the environment is to lead by example. If you show enthusiasm for wildlife and nature, your kids will follow your lead. Make a point to schedule some “nature” time with your kids at least once a week in cold weather and 3 or more times a week in warm weather.
Take nature walks in your own neighborhood, parks and wildlife areas- be sure to point out plants and animals you see along the way. Stop and take time to observe insects and animals. Discuss how nature changes with the seasons.
Take a weekend adventure to a state park. Go for a hike, take a canoe trip, or visit a nature center. Spend time talking with your children about the plants and animals they see. Have them draw pictures or take photographs of the things they see or experience on your weekend outing. Discuss how the wildlife you see in your neighborhood might differ from other places.
Encourage children to spend at least an hour a day exploring their own backyard on their own or with friends. You can make a game out of it by giving them a list of things to look for and observe. Include your kids in planting and gardening. Give them their own seeds to plant and care for. As a family, plant a tree together and watch it grow. Check out books from your local library to read with your children on local plants and animal life.
Once your child develops an appreciation for their environment, they will want to be involved in caring for it. Again, your child will follow your lead. Involve kids in recycling and conserving energy by giving them their own responsibilities.
Teach them to sort recyclables into appropriate containers. Remind them to turn off lights when they leave a room and not too leave the water running when they are brushing their teeth. Involve them in changing all the standard light bulbs in your home to energy efficient ones. Check out books from the library that will teach your kids about other ways they can protect the planet and then let them make suggestions about changes you can make in your household.
Get involved with your child’s school to organize an aluminum can drive or a neighborhood clean up as an after school activity to get the kids working together.
Making the environment a family cause will not only help the planet, it naturally creates quality family time, teaches kids responsibility and respect, and gets them off the couch. It just might renew your own appreciation for the natural world and get you off the couch. And the best part of all… it doesn’t cost a thing!
Even outdoor time is often spent in a structured manner, playing sports or spending an afternoon at the swimming pool or amusement park. In order to appreciate nature and the environment, kids must be given opportunities to interact with the natural world around them.
Much of what children learn about the environment comes from the television. Often the messages they are receiving are biased by activists with a “doomsday” view of the earth’s future. There is no need to scare kids with big environmental issues and theories about global warming and a doomed planet. Lessons about the environment should start in their own backyard, school, neighborhood parks, gardens, and wildlife areas.
The best way to teach your kids to care about and respect the environment is to lead by example. If you show enthusiasm for wildlife and nature, your kids will follow your lead. Make a point to schedule some “nature” time with your kids at least once a week in cold weather and 3 or more times a week in warm weather.
Take nature walks in your own neighborhood, parks and wildlife areas- be sure to point out plants and animals you see along the way. Stop and take time to observe insects and animals. Discuss how nature changes with the seasons.
Take a weekend adventure to a state park. Go for a hike, take a canoe trip, or visit a nature center. Spend time talking with your children about the plants and animals they see. Have them draw pictures or take photographs of the things they see or experience on your weekend outing. Discuss how the wildlife you see in your neighborhood might differ from other places.
Encourage children to spend at least an hour a day exploring their own backyard on their own or with friends. You can make a game out of it by giving them a list of things to look for and observe. Include your kids in planting and gardening. Give them their own seeds to plant and care for. As a family, plant a tree together and watch it grow. Check out books from your local library to read with your children on local plants and animal life.
Once your child develops an appreciation for their environment, they will want to be involved in caring for it. Again, your child will follow your lead. Involve kids in recycling and conserving energy by giving them their own responsibilities.
Teach them to sort recyclables into appropriate containers. Remind them to turn off lights when they leave a room and not too leave the water running when they are brushing their teeth. Involve them in changing all the standard light bulbs in your home to energy efficient ones. Check out books from the library that will teach your kids about other ways they can protect the planet and then let them make suggestions about changes you can make in your household.
Get involved with your child’s school to organize an aluminum can drive or a neighborhood clean up as an after school activity to get the kids working together.
Making the environment a family cause will not only help the planet, it naturally creates quality family time, teaches kids responsibility and respect, and gets them off the couch. It just might renew your own appreciation for the natural world and get you off the couch. And the best part of all… it doesn’t cost a thing!