It’s easy to become overwhelmed reading and learning about the latest indicators of climate change and its impact on our planet’s future. For parents and kids alike, it can feel out of reach to make a measurable difference against the tide of changes we face.
But just like with other global problems, we find hope when we seek contributions that we can make, each of us, every single day. Cumulatively, simple actions come together to make a real difference, helping us to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, and, as Mahatma Gandhi famously said, to “be the change we want to see in the world.”
Help your kids help the environment and respect their local and global environment by encouraging these simple habits.
1) Don’t Litter
Classic advice, but still as relevant as ever to young generations. If you generate trash in the course of going about your daily life, take responsibility for disposing of it properly. A simple lesson that lasts a lifetime.
2) Compost
Food waste is a major contributor to the climate crisis. Find out what options your town offers for compost collection, or if you have the space, learn about how to start a compost pile in your yard. What a great family project! Put your food scraps to use in the service of growing new food to feed yourself and nourish the planet.
3) Ask Questions
“Which recycling symbols are accepted in our town?” “Can I add autumn leaves to my compost pile?” Show your kids how to ask questions and be curious about learning about how trash works, so you can lower your environmental impact and maximize your care in taking care of your own garbage.
4) Seek Out Success Stories
When you come across a news story about an environmentally-friendly invention or discovery, share it excitedly with your kids. Doing this boosts their hope for the future, and their sense of empowerment that creativity and ingenuity will be our salvation.
5) Appreciate Nature
Want to have kids who care about the planet? Spend some time exploring it! Visit parks, natural areas like mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, or the ocean, and marvel at the beauty of our world.
6) Make Your Money Count
Put your dollars behind your environmentally-friendly values, supporting nonprofits and businesses that are leading the way to put our planet first.
7) Swap, Borrow, and Re-Use
Push back against the mentality that everything is disposable by teaching your kids to seek out opportunities to re-use, repurpose, and share items that don’t need to be bought new. Thrift stores, used bookstores, buy-nothing organizations, and asking a neighbor for a tablespoon of a hard-to-find spice are easy ways to get into this earth-friendly, community-oriented habit.
8) Walk, Ride, or Bike When You Can
Show your kids how to lower your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of driving you do. When possible, take public transportation, walk, or bicycle around your neighborhood or on local errands. Doing so is a chance not only to help the environment, it reinforces safety practices like looking both ways and wearing a bike helmet.
How can you help your kids help the environment?
