With the fast development of technologies nowadays and with the growth of our dependence on them, it is only natural that the new generations grow more and more attached to them, too. But with the rising connection between children and technology, their connection with nature remains left behind. This is a common issue that needs to be paid more attention to, otherwise there is a high risk of raising individuals with zero awareness of the Earth’s needs and problems.
Raising environmentally-friendly children is one of the main responsibilities an intelligent parent has to have.
Helping kids learn they can be a part of the solution for healing our only home- the Earth, is something that many parents seem to be missing on.
It is normal for children to be fascinated by the new technologies (like smart phones, tablets or video games) that offer tons of fun in no time. But they can be the perfect distraction to keep them away from going out, exploring the real world and all the beautiful wonders nature has to offer.
If you are wondering how you can teach your children to be Earth-conscious individuals, here are some ideas that can be helpful.
Hiking and spending time outdoors
Teaching you children to love nature is a must if you want to raise Earth-conscious individuals. The best way to do that is to simply spend more time with them outdoors. There are plenty of fun activities for kids that can be done in nature: having a picnic, hiking, taking a walk, playing with a ball, running, going to the beach or to a riverside etc. Exploring nature will help your kids establish a healthy relationship with it and in that way they will try to do their best to preserve its raw beauty.
Being a good role model
Children see, children do. Especially in their earliest years, kids are visual learners. They are more likely to follow your example than to really listen to what you say. So the first thing you have to do is to educate yourself on ways to live a more Eco-friendly live. By doing so, you can help your kids to learn how they can protect the Earth, too. What can also help is to reduce the time your children spend in front of the TV. Between the entertaining shows, there are commercials that aim to manipulate young viewers into thinking they need to have the wasteful and toxic products that are often being advertised.
Gardening
Great things happen to those who work hard and stay patient. Believe it or not, a great way to teach your kid this is by gardening. When you make the effort to plant a seed and take care of it properly, it starts growing and changing. This can also make them realize how important it is that all living creatures get along and take care of each other. When a child nourishes a seed and sees it grow into something bigger and bigger, this can make them feel proud of themselves and more willing to spend time in the garden. If you don’t have a garden, don’t worry. You can plant a veggie or some other sort of plant into a pot and teach your child how gardening works. Another benefit of this principle is that your kid will be more likely to eat an organic vegetable that they have taken care of and watched grow.
Spending time with animals
A great way for kids to learn to be more compassionate, caring and responsible is by spending more time in the company of animals. That way young individuals can realize that cooperation is the only way nature can be preserved. Simply being in the presence of animals can teach kids to respect other species and love the diversity our planet offers.
Recycling
Recycling is one of the best ways to preserve our planet’s health. That is why children should be taught to do it on a daily basis. What is more, teaching your kids to reuse what they can from the disposable household items is a good idea, too. It is important that we understand the significance of buying less and less packaged stuff and spreading that knowledge with the new generations. This has the potential to make the future brighter, cleaner and healthier for them.
Participating in organized clean-up activities
Joining such activities with your children can help them see the change they are a part of with their own eyes- from an unpleasant dirty environment to a fresh and clean one. Definitely, this can inspire them to do more and more to help in the future.
In order to teach your kids Earth-awareness, you do not need a big garden or solar panels on your roof.
Related: 25 Things NOT To Say To Your Kids
You can start small. Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Replace plastic or paper grocery bags with cloth ones. Buy only recyclable packaging. There should not be pressure to do that, only willingness to contribute to a healthier and cleaner environment.
Related: How Parents Build Narcissistic Children
image: Jonf728
