Guest Post: A Guide to Raising Future Environmental Stewards

Are you raising a future environmental steward? While you may value measures that seek to preserve this wonderful planet, it is essential to begin teaching your children those same values early on. Even though issues of recycling, global warming, and pollution can seem like complex topics to explain to your little ones, there are easy ways to help them understand the importance of taking care of the environment. You can also empower them with ways to actively learn about and work toward a better future for the planet. Not sure where to get started? Discover three ways to help your children become environmental stewards as they get older.

Teach your children the importance of recycling

Recycling is one of the most fundamental eco-friendly concepts that you can teach your child. Children can easily understand the concept of using bottles, paper, and other recyclable items to create new items. Explain the basic significance of recycling, and involve your child in related activities. Start to explain which items are appropriate for the recycling bin, and which items must go into the garbage. Have your child use recyclables to create something new, such as a picture frame. You can also involve your child as part of your at-home recycling efforts.

Take care of nature in your backyard

Explore nature without ever leaving home! As your space allows, teach your child about the importance of nature in your own backyard. From attracting native birds to your garden using various techniques to starting an eco-friendly garden, the possibilities are endless. Your home can serve as a wonderful place to show your child all of the elements of nature in one place. Explain the importance of water conservation, keeping garbage out of the environment, and taking care of animals. A garden can be an engaging place that will bring environmental lessons to life.

Use arts and crafts as a means to discuss the environment

One of the best ways to convey ideas that are more complex is through arts and crafts. Topics such as pollution and global warming can be a little more challenging to grasp, and may not make sense through explanation alone. Using a craft to help your child better understand more advanced ideas is highly effective. Additionally, it is also fun to reinforce easy-to-understand environmental and nature concepts with arts and crafts. Have your child paint the planet, create a bird feeder, or build a container for a plant.

Teaching your children about the environment can be a fun and enjoyable experience. By including them in your home recycling efforts, teaching them to take care of nature, and utilising arts and crafts, your child is on an excellent path to becoming an environmental steward.

Jane Sandwood is a professional freelance writer and content editor with over 10 years’ experience across many fields. Jane has a particular interest in issues relating to health, fitness and nutrition.