How to Cultivate Environmental Awareness in Children

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Author – Mabel Burnett

environmental awareness in children

Sustainability is a global issue that we all need to be more concerned about. It may be nothing to some, but it’s the only thing that matters to others. As individuals, we can make a difference by recycling resources and conserving energy.

But it takes more than that to be sustainable. We need to change the way we think about consumption and waste. The first step is education. We need to learn about the key issues and what we can do to help. Once we know more, we can make more informed choices about the products we buy and how we live our lives.

Steps to Build Environmental Awareness in Children

So it’s never too early to start introducing sustainable lifestyle and environmental awareness in children. In fact, the younger they start learning, the more likely they are to develop lifelong habits of conservation and mindfulness. Here are ways to cultivate environmental and sustainability awareness among toddlers.

Be a Sustainable Living Role Model

First things first, be a good role model for your child. One way to teach your toddler about conservation is to show them how to save water. Tell children to turn off the water while cleaning their teeth, advises the dentist in Surprise. This small act can make a big difference in helping conserve this precious resource.

Another way to teach your children about conservation is by recycling waste and composting your organic garbage. Explain why recycling our resources is essential instead of just throwing them away. Show them how easy it is to do these things together. Further, you can also purchase sustainable items like bamboo toothbrushes and recycled toys. On websites such as My Happy Helpers, you can look for eco-friendly products and sustainable toys that your children will love and feel good about using.

You can also teach your toddler about energy conservation by turning off lights when they’re not needed and unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. Explain to them how this conserves energy and helps the environment.

Read Books About the Environment

There are many children’s books about the environment that can help children learn about sustainability. Some of the best books are The Water Princess, The Great Kapok Tree, and We Planted a Tree. These books can help toddlers understand the importance of taking care of the environment. They learn about the water cycle, deforestation, and the benefits of planting trees.

Visit An Environmental Center

One of the best things about being a parent is getting to share your love of learning with your child. And there’s no better way to do that than by taking them to an environmental center, which offers fun and educational activities that are perfect for children.

Most environmental centers have exhibits where kids can learn about different animals. This not only builds environmental awareness in children, they can also learn about how to protect their environment. Further, they usually have a playground or activity center where kids can burn off some energy.

They’ll be able to see how recycling works, learn about composting, and get up close and personal with some animals. And they’ll have a blast doing it. So next time you’re looking for something fun to do with your toddler, consider taking them to an environmental center. They’re sure to love it.

Explore Nature

Go on walks in nature with your toddler and point out all the things you see around you made from plants or water. Help them identify different trees, flowers, and bugs. You can even try to find some animal tracks! Make a fun game out of it and see how many things they can identify that are made from plants or water. If you live near a body of water, take a trip down there. And let your child play in the sand or splash around in the shallows.

Taking your children for walks in nature is the perfect way to teach them about the world around them. Not only will they get some fresh air and exercise, but they’ll also learn about plants, water, trees, flowers, bugs, and how to take care of them.

Make Sustainable Choices Together

Children love helping parents make decisions—especially when those decisions have something to do with taking care of the earth! When you’re at the grocery store, let your children pick the fruits and vegetables of their choice. Or, when you’re outside, ask your toddler to help pick up any trash they see.

You can also get creative with how you involve your toddler in taking care of the earth. For example, have a picnic in your backyard and use reusable plates and cups. Or have a ‘green birthday party’ where all the decorations are made out of recycled materials.

Author bio – A guest blogger has contributed this advertorial

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