Going Green: Teaching Your Kids About Sustainability - October 2024

Young children may not yet have the capacity to conceptualise things like global warming. They may know nothing about carbon footprints or environmental pollution. However, as bleak as our prospects are, our children are never too young to learn about sustainability. Who knows, they may be the generation that saves our planet; but you must do your part as well. Kids may not fully understand why we recycle or compost, but teach them anyway. Perhaps once they’re older, these good habits will be a part of their adult life. We’ve already talked about some of the things adult women can do to be sustainable. You may have also read one of our previous articles about how you can be more eco-friendly as a family. Now, perhaps it’s time to get your children to hop on the bandwagon as well. In this article, we will talk about some of the ways you can teach your child about sustainability. One banana peel at a time. What Is Sustainability? Sustainability refers to a society’s ability to ethically use existing resources without jeopardising the survival of future generations. It is a catch-all term that can be used in many contexts, and isn’t just about being green or eco-friendly. However, protecting, conserving and replenishing natural resources is integral to the concept. Most businesses, especially those that deal with industrial production, are seldom sustainable. They generate a tonne of waste that release carbon into the atmosphere. The carbon accumulates and heats up the planet, culminating in natural disasters and climate change. When weather becomes unpredictable, food production is affected (and most of our food comes from plants). Climate change can wreak havoc on crops, causing food shortages for both humans and livestock. If this goes on, the earth will be too infertile for future generations to use for growing food. Extreme weather like heatwaves and drought has also caused many places to become uninhabitable for humans. How to Teach Children About Sustainability 1. Buy books about sustainability The magnitude of the issue makes explaining things like sustainability to a preschooler a bit daunting. I doubt many of them can even pronounce the word yet. However, books can help. Children generally respond better to stories and nursery rhymes than they do academic texts. Dr Seuss’ 'The Lorax' is an infamous example of a children’s book that touches on the subject of environmentalism. However, it’s important not to bombard them with too much negative information. I don’t think most kids are ready to hear about mass extinctions, natural disasters or rising sea levels. So, keep the reading material light-hearted. 2. Be a good role model In order to cultivate an eco-friendly mindset in your kids, you need to walk the talk. Instil those habits within yourself first, and your children will naturally mirror you. This is probably one of the oldest parenting tricks in the book. Your children are just mini versions of you running around. The quickest and most effective way of teaching your kids about sustainability is to be sustainable yourself. Children follow in your footsteps, so be sure to not leave too many carbon footprints. You may find them leaving bigger ones behind you as time goes by. 3. Reduce, reuse, recycle Dedicate a special bin for the family’s recycling needs. Teach your children the different types of recycling material that go in it like glass, paper, and plastic. I wouldn’t recommend buying those special triple recycling cans, even if you’re not pressed for space. I don’t think a small family will be making nearly as much domestic waste to warrant industrial disposal systems. However, do have another bin for your organic waste in case you’re making compost. Once your bin is full, sort the contents out in cardboard boxes to be sent to your local recycling centre. Involve your child in the sorting process. If there are things (or parts of things) that you can reuse, repurpose or 'upcycle', involve your child in the process. However, do monitor how much recyclable rubbish they’re using for their arts and crafts. You don’t want a clutter bug on your hands. 4. Plant a vegetable garden Planting a garden is a great way to teach your kids about the wonders of growing your own food. This may a bit tricky if you are a working parent, but that’s what the weekends are for. Some good, fast-growing plants that thrive well in our tropical climate include water spinach (kangkung), chillies, okras, bak choi, salad garden (spinach or lettuce), brinjals and capcisums. While you’re at it, consider growing any of these superfoods. They can do wonders for your diet and nutrition. If the thought of cultivating a garden from seed sounds daunting, buy a seedling. If you don’t have a plot of land, grow them in small pots by the window, or on a balcony. When the time comes to harvest the fruits of your labour, show your children how important the earth is. How it sustains them and everyone else in the family. They may attain a new appreciation for the planet and its role in their lives. 5. Learn to compost Composting is a great way to repurpose kitchen waste. Making your own compost can also teach your children a lot about the cycle of life. Things decompose so that other things can grow from them. Plant-based waste like vegetable and fruit peels are great for composts, and so are grass cuttings. Again, if you live in a flat, don’t fret. You can easily make compost in small batches that won’t take up too much space. Besides being an interesting science experiment, composting also increases a child’s awareness of how much waste they make. This can teach them to be more careful about leaving too much of an environmental impact. 6. Reusable shopping bags This probably goes without saying. Using reusable bags is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of reducing plastic waste. The average Malaysian household uses over 300 plastic bags a year. Of course, your children probably don’t need to know the statistics. The purpose of teaching kids about sustainability is not in any way academic. It’s more about instilling good habits for the future. Somewhere down the line, they will eventually learn the facts. Avoid showing your kids photos of sea creatures dying due to plastics. This can be traumatising. I do not recommend this as a lesson in sustainability. Your kids may ask why you’re using special bags for shopping, tell them the truth. That plastic bags are making the planet hotter. Kids only relate to things that affect them, and hot weather is everyone’s problem. A Big Difference with Baby Steps You don’t need to overturn your children’s entire lives just to teach them about sustainability. The simplest methods usually leave the most lasting impact. At the end of the day, it all starts with you. Children love to mirror their caregivers. This is why we often see so many kids adopting the same hobbies and habits as their parents. If you don’t live by the same principles that you are teaching them, it probably won’t stick. Even something as small as using a reusable metal straw instead of a plastic one can make a huge difference. Conversely, throwing rubbish by the side of the street can also leave the wrong impression. Don’t underestimate how perceptive your kids can be. They pick up on things more often than you notice. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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