6 Environmentally-Friendly Actions for Kids

By Income Eco Run, 17 April 2018 665

It's never too early to teach your children about the importance of caring for the environment. Here are 6 easy steps that kids can easily follow to help them go green too. 

Children learn from the actions of people around them, so when it comes to environmental conservation, it's important that you, as their role model, show them through your actions why it is important to be environmentally-friendly, and how to go green even from a young age.

Many of us grew up learning and still remember the 3 Rs when it comes to caring for the environment - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We added another 3 Rs to create a guide of six Rs that will be easy for kids to remember how to be environmentally friendly.
 

1. Reduce


When it comes to waste, less is best. Teach your children the importance on cutting down on waste – how to take only what they need, and simple ways to reduce unnecessary waste like conserving power by switching lights off when not in use, and saving water by checking for leaky faucets. If your children have more than enough of what they own, encourage them to share with people around them and cultivate a compassion for helping those in need with what they have.
 

2. Reuse

 

 
Single-use and disposable items are one of the biggest factors contributing to waste – being able to use an item multiple times cuts down on waste dramatically. One of the best ways to demonstrate this is when you pack your child's lunch for school – switch from plastic bags to reusable containers and drink from a water bottle instead of packing packet drinks. Other easy habits you can inculcate include bringing your own reusable bags when shopping and donating old clothing instead of throwing it away.
 

3. Recyle

 

 
Breathe new life into old unwanted items. This is a great time to get creative with your children as you let them think of ways to transform possible household waste into potentially useful items instead, like turning plastic bottles into gardening tools, or transforming cereal boxes into photo frames. An important thing to teach children about is recycling is knowing what can be recycled and how to sort their rubbish into the correct bins for recycling collection – turn this mundane chore into a game for them so they can have fun with it.
 

4. Repair

 

 
Online shopping and low prices have turned our generation into one with a short attention span for problems – why fix it when you can get a new one more cheaply and easily? Teach your child the value of looking after their things, and some simple fix-it skills like simple sewing techniques, and how to use basic tools like screwdrivers and superglue on hand for those times when repair is inevitable. These skills not only reduce waste but will go a long way into preparing them for independence and adulthood.
 

5. Rubbish

 
 
Set a good example for your child by always using a trash bin and remind them never to litter. Participating in public cleanups or even just picking up errant trash in places that you frequent like the park and beach are other good ways to inculcate a civic-consciousness in your child.
 

6. React


Your own actions are a small start but they aren't enough to impact the world. This is a great teaching moment to show your child how to stand up for the environment and advocate for a greener world in small ways, starting from simple things like reminding and showing their friends and people around them to be greener.

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