Many children today don't learn to think at all about the
environment. Others do, of course, but if there's no example set, what else can
be expected? This is something important for all parents to consider, although
it can be easier for stay at home parents such as myself to set the example. I
consider keeping to the facts to be one of the most important things you can
do. You want your children to trust you, and if they find out you exaggerated,
there goes some of that trust This can be challenging. Trying to explain the
issues at age appropriate levels is not easy. You can start off at a fairly
young age, however. Preschoolers can be great about turning off lights and
asking before throwing items in the trash or recycling bins. They love helping
in the garden. All very simple, very preschooler friendly. As they get older
you can discuss some of the more serious issues. Why we don't want to produce
more garbage than we have to, for example. You can also get into why you have
to be more careful about disposing of things such as electronics and batteries.
Then there are endangered species, rain forests, air
quality and water quality issues you can teach about. Exactly when each is
appropriate can depend on the interests of your children. Some will love
animals intensely at a very early age and may want to learn about endangered
species early. Others will not. Perhaps the most important thing you can teach
your children is what they, as individuals can do. It can be hard to realize
how much just one person can do. Discuss the big choices as well as the little
ones that can mean so much. Little choices can include such things as merely
deciding to recycle, picking which items to buy and so forth. Bigger choices
can include the car you drive and how you power your home. Especially as they
approach high school age, it can be good to encourage your children to become
more actively involved in the issues that particularly interest them. I do
strongly encourage you to allow them to pick their own causes, rather than your
own pet cause. The main thing is that they participate, not that they do only
what you think is most important. Getting involved can start at a very early
age. If you make it just a fact of life, children can learn to think about the
environment as they grow. The younger green habits start, the easier they
should be to live with.
Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com/about her experiences trying to live a more environmentally friendly life. She offers tips on going green and also discusses other environmental topics.
Really i am impressed from this post....the person who created and knows how to keep the readers connected..Thanks for sharing this with us...
ReplyDeleteThanks friend for reading the post.
DeleteHope my little efforts can at least save a single tree in the world