How to Teach Your Kids to be More Eco-Conscious

If you live in a big city you may feel disconnected from the nature. However, it doesn’t mean you should forget about the environment and you can still be eco-friendly while living in a big city. General over-consumption in big cities leads to pollution and waste and you can teach your children how to take care of the environment and cause less damage to the nature.

There is no need to change your life in order to stay environmental friendly, but by following these simple steps, you can teach your children how to protect the environment and the nature by practicing good habits with them.

Responsible shopping

First of all, you need to think twice before taking another plastic bag from the supermarket. Carry a textile groceries bag in your purse just in case you go to a supermarket. This way you will reduce the amount of waste you produce and is an example of precycling for your children. Even if you have to buy a plastic bag, choose biodegradable bags. Biodegradable cleaning products cause less harm to the nature.

Think twice before buying another pack of plastic plates and forks. Washing the dishes is eco-friendlier than throwing away used plastic cups and bags. Try to remember to carry a small re-usable plastic cup that can be rinsed later on in case you want to buy a cup of coffee or a smoothie for your children. This way you will avoid buying unnecessary disposable plastic cups.

Recycle and reuse

Recycling doesn’t take a lot of time. It isn’t difficult to separate plastic from organic waste and glass. You just need to buy different trash cans for different kinds of waste. Find the closest recycling facility to your house and bring your trash there. Your children will learn how to treat waste in a responsible way and follow your example.

Reuse and recycle paper by encouraging your children to use scrap paper and draw on both sides of the office paper. Be creative and use old magazines to make collages and paper art. However, do be careful with hazardous waste. Don’t throw away used batteries as you will need to recycle them after you have used them or purchase batteries that you reuse and recharge again and again.

With supervision you can also teach your children about recycling scrap metal. A family project of cleaning out your garage will clear out a lot of needed space. Scrap metals are in huge demand from metal dealers. Get a waste disposal company to pick up your scraps and you can even make some money.

Conserving food and water

Avoid throwing away food leftovers and teach your children how to preserve food in the fridge or freezer. Show them how to use plastic containers and don’t forget to put the food or beverages back in the fridge. It would be a waste to leave juice and milk outside for hours to come back to find out that they have spoiled.

Don’t forget about conserving water throughout the day. You can preserve water by taking shorter showers and if you have a water proof clock installed in your shower you will avoid spending too much time in the shower. Try to teach your child to turn off the tap between using water. So after they have washed the shampoo out of their hair, they should turn off the top to apply conditioner to their hair. Same with washing hands and brushing teeth; turn off the tap between scrubbing either.

Volunteer

You and your children can participate in cleanup programs and tree planting initiatives in your neighborhood. When your children will see the amount of trash in the rivers and parks, they will think twice before throwing an empty can on the ground. Your children will be more alert and eco-friendly if they have a firsthand experience in nature preserving.

Energy saving mode

Use only energy saving light bulbs and electronic devices at home. Energy saving devices are only marginally more expensive than the conventional ones, but they will reduce your energy bill on the long run. Tell your children about the basic energy preserving techniques. Explain them why it is important to consume less energy.

As your home may need environmental services to fix any damages or improve the quality of the house, explain to your child why the service is necessary and the importance of having good air and water quality where they live.

These simple steps can have a significant impact on your children’s behavior. If your children learn more about water conservation and waste reduction techniques they will stay eco-friendly and will have a potential to change environmental regulations in the future.

Author’s bio

This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd, a freelance writer who shares her thoughts on various blogs. Nowadays writing on behalf a company offering environmental services.