Early Environmentally Friendly Education

We form habits from what we’ve learned and been taught.  Patterns are established early in life.  Everybody has a certain way of doing things and certain conditions or situations become important to them, their family and community.

In children both the conscious and subconscious mind are very flexible.  As people start to age the brain becomes more inflexible and at some point the things that exist in our mind are solidified and people become who they are to become.  Once habits have formed change starts to get resisted.

This is why it’s important for this generation to be well informed of the current circumstances threatening the environment and not only their health and wellbeing but the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Setting an Example

Children are always watching and emulating their parents and adults around them.  The actions of parents and teachers today will be imitated by children tomorrow.

It’s important to be aware of your every day actions and the examples you are setting.  By teaching them that the environment is important to you, explaining the consequences and sharing your thoughts with them they will inherit an appreciation for and care about the same things you care about.

Teaching children about the environment is an important part of their education.  Take time to plan activities, games and learning adventures that will peak their interests and impact them for the rest of their lives.  There are many ways to help children be aware of the importance of their becoming eco-friendly and plenty of easy steps that can be taken to make it happen.

In Home Practices

Education starts in the home.  From the very beginning make it known to children that their family is determined to meet the challenges of climate change and dedicated to helping the environment.  Make sustainability, energy savings and organic common words around your home.  Make the choices you want your children to make, now and in the future.

Set up recycle bins that make it easy to properly sort household waste and ensure it gets disposed of properly.  Use alternative transportation like walking, biking, public transportation and car pool whenever possible.  Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.  Sign the whole family up to participate for community clean up and recycling days.

School & Community

Make sure these practices continue outside the home by starting environmental awareness programs at school and in your community.  Organize an Earth Day assembly program for local schools.  Every class can prepare charts and informational material on the many ways their actions help save the environment.

Help your children learn to enjoy the outdoors and better understand the importance of the world around them.

Children are encouraged from a very early age to be consumers.  Commercials about the latest and greatest game or toy and cartoon and movie character merchandise creates a desire to have certain items that kids at school or around the neighborhood quickly determine they must have because all the kids have them.  Make toy purchases on the basis of longevity and interest as opposed to what’s hot at the moment.

Make sure kids understand that other children have needs.  Suggest they organize or participate in a giveaway program.  Donate outgrown clothes and toys to homeless shelters and local Salvation Army or community center.

Simplify Living

Living simply is not very popular but it is one of the best ways to impact the environment in a positive way.  The less we consume, the less needs to be manufactured.  This means less waste, less fossil fuels and less packaging.