To really make a difference in the future of the environment for our world, we have to involve people of all generations to make positive changes, including children. However, it’s often very hard to get children to understand the issues facing the world when it comes to the environment, especially when it involves making personal changes about their own wastefulness. But luckily, there are ways that you can make this interesting for kids and encourage them to be the change we need.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for teaching kids to be less wasteful.
Make It Part Of Family Habits
Kids are great at parroting what they see. Knowing this, one way you can encourage your kids to be less wasteful is to be less wasteful yourself. Once you’re able to make this part of the habits that your family automatically follows, everyone in your household will have a much easier time.
To do this, Kirstie Landry, a contributor to Moms.com, suggests that you keep things around your house that help encourage your family to recycle. Doing things like asking for less plastic on packaging, ordering from restaurants that use biodegradable or compostable takeout materials, keeping your own recycling bins in your home, and other actions will help your kids see how important this issue is to you while learning how to integrate it into their own lives once they’re no longer at home with you.
Donate Rather Than Throwing Away
Kids often outgrow or stop using certain clothes or toys that they once loved. When this happens, rather than just throwing those items away, instill in your kids the idea to donate first.
Not only will donating help your kids and your family to create less waste in your household, but National Geographic Kids shares that it’s also a great way for your kids to give back to their community. And because a big reason for being less wasteful is for the greater good of the world as a whole and our communities individually, donating to help those around them will only help to further the cause.
Create A Challenge Around “Zero Waste”
If your children or family is particularly stubborn when it comes to certain forms of waste, Madeline Will, a contributor to EdWeek.org, suggests that you try making reducing their waste a challenge rather than just a suggestion.
As part of this challenge, try to get your children to reach a “zero waste” state. With this challenge in place, you may be surprised at just how creative your kids get with reducing, reusing, and recycling completely on their own.
If you’re wanting to help your kids to become less wasteful now and in the future, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you encourage this type of behavior.
