Let’s face it; sometimes it can be hard enough for us adults to conceptualise the impending doom. Because it’s a relatively gradual crisis, without immediate threat to the lives of loved ones, it’s one all too often swept under the proverbial carpet hastily.
But the planet is warming up, and the danger which lies ahead is undeniable. And though we’re all well conversant in how the individual can help protect the planet, from recycling to consuming less, it can be hard to explain this to the little ones in an easy to understand, un-frightening way.
It’s so important that the next generation are environmentally conscious, and we can’t simply delegate the teaching to Greta and hope for the best. Fortunately, doing your bit and educating your kids on the climate crisis can be fulfilling, in its own way.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a few ways you can encourage your kids to get interested in the environment. Take a look!
Plant Together
Growing a plant or crops from scratch is a great way to teach your child to be nature loving. Watering and taking care of the plant until it is fully grown will prove very satisfying for both of you, and could even teach kids how to grow their own food in the future. What’s more, it fosters an understanding of the seasons and the passing of time, which is valuable for teaching many life lessons later down the line.
Aside from growing your own food, there are other ways to turn your garden into an environmental asset, too, like welcoming in bees and making a dedicated area for compost. Perhaps a fun project for you and the kids?
DIY Projects
A great way to keep your child busy at home whilst learning valuable eco life lessons is by doing sustainable DIY projects together. This can involve using materials otherwise destined for the recycling bin, such as toilet rolls, plastic bottles, and cereal boxes, to complete arts and crafts projects around the house.
This will teach ways to reuse and recycle rather than throw away, and you can gently explain the pressing necessity for this in time, too.
As the team at TP Garden Toys encourage, constructing a small play house in your garden out of reclaimed wood and other recycled materials is another great way to teach the kids about the importance of treading a little lighter on the planet.
And the best part? Having a play house to play in will encourage your kids to put down their phones and enjoy some fresh air. Perfect!
Play Science-Based Educational Games
Another great way to get your child interested in science and the environment is by playing science-themed, education games. These can be board games, video games, or apps that are centred around scientific concepts. You may find games about the planets in the solar system, our eco-system here on earth, biodiversity, animal trivia and so much more.
These types of games allow kids to engage in science while having fun at the same time. Additionally, these games can help children better understand scientific concepts, as they require them to apply their knowledge to win. Result!
Care For Animals
Animals are affected by environmental changes just as much as us, if not more. Therefore, it’s really important to teach our children to be kind to animals. One way to do so is by getting a pet and involve your child in walking, feeding, and bathing them, but if getting a pet is not possible, there are plenty of urban – as well as rural – farms that you can explore from home with your family!
Check out this directory and map of the UK’s social farms and gardens to find one near to you.
Watch Cartoons & Informational Kids’ Videos About Saving The Environment
Kids will be kids and cartoons will always appeal. An excuse to watch them? We think adults would jump at the chance, too. By making sure those cartoons or series send a sustainable, eco-conscious message (like Captain Planet, Bill Nye the science guy or Sesame Street), you can foster a positive learning environment and open dialogue about the future of the planet. Children look up to their favourite characters, and if they are fighting to save the environment, your child will want to do the same.
There are a whole host of informational (and fun!) kids’ videos out there too that can get your children thinking in a more environmentally conscious way. These videos, found via programmes like Newsround and Blue Peter, and on channels like CBBC and Discovery, cover everything from climate zones for kids all the way to deep dives into the growing importance of solar energy, all in a simple, straightforward language aimed at children.
Though these topics may feel impenetrable (and unteachable!) at first, cartoons and videos can help make them more approachable.
Read: How to help your kids be more enthusiastic at school
Ride A Bike, Don’t Drive
Above all else, teaching your children about the environmental impact of human’s actions is all about setting a good example in your own behaviours. Part of this can be achieved by teaching your child eco-friendly modes of transport by helping them learn to ride a bike and nurturing a love of walking rather than jumping in the car, when possible.
This will not only be great for the environment, but it is a great way for them to get their daily exercise too. And that’s two birds killed with one stone. Actually, that wouldn’t be very environmentally friendly. Scrap that.
Engage With Space, Too
Though engaging with the solar system on a more meaningful level may not at first feel as pressing as environmental concerns here on earth, it’s also vital to foster that sense in your children that ‘everything is connected’.
A wonderful, interactive way to do this is through stargazing apps – Night Sky, SkySafari and Star Walk are three of the most popular – which help you identify stars, planets and constellations, all by pointing your smartphone skyward. Magical stuff.
Or, a more old school investment in a telescope could also nurture a keen interest in the planets in your little one. And that’s what it’s all about, right?
Since we’re never too old to learn, check out these 6 IDEAL ways you can play your part in saving the environment for a few more pointers.
