Green Living – Teach your kids to be green

Conservation and recycling must become habits for all members of the family, including children. The younger generation will be the most affected by current practices, so they must play an active role in green living. Teaching your kids to be green can be fun if approached the right way.

There are websites that contain information and games to help children learn about conserving natural resources, eating healthy, and engaging in green practices. Look for a few of these and choose the ones that convey the most important lessons, sharing the education where possible. Local zoos, science centers, and museums have other great educational tools, and the family can make a day trip out of one of these.

Children tend to imitate the actions of their parents, so in order for young people to reduce, reuse and recycle, parents must do it. Let the children put the recyclables in the proper containers and ask them to help carry the containers to the curb on garbage day. Let them pick up organic and eco-friendly food at the supermarket or help plant fruits and vegetables in the home garden.

Make sure children turn off lights, appliances, and electronic equipment when not in use. Make it part of their chore charts and reward them with stickers or small gifts when they participate in these practices. Ask them to help you sort through clothes that no longer fit you and take them to a thrift store where they can resell them.

Teaching your children to be green means including them in practices that adults already engage in. Recycling, conservation, organic diets, and reusing clothing are just some of the ways the family can participate in green living. Kids have great ideas, so listen to them, because they can come up with even more environmentally friendly practices.