Environmentally conscience parents are always looking for new ways to teach their children how to reduce waste. With so many lessons on your plate, it’s not always easy to shift your focus to big picture ideas like the planet.
However, there’s no denying how learning about recycling, reducing, and rebuying items at a young age can affect how you look at the world in adulthood.
If you find that you’re struggling to find simple, easy-to-understand ways to teach your kids how to recycle, we’ve pulled some of our favorite ideas. These simple lessons will have your kids saving the planet in no time.
Shopping Trips As Teaching Moments
Going out into the world and leading by example is the best way to connect with your kids and teach them lessons. The next time you go on shopping trips together, consider doing these things and explaining why they’re essential.
- Bring your shopping bags with you, including the little bags for veggies and fruit
- Purchase in bulk and avoid plastic heavy items when you can
- Use things that are already in your home rather than buying something new
- Buy liquid products and refill containers for cleaning liquids, hand soap, etc
- Don’t buy single-serve packaged food
- Go for products with minimal packaging
What Can You Reuse
Another way to lead by example is to go around the house and find ways to reuse things you already have. Make sure your kids are with you and explain what you’re reusing and why.
It also helps to reiterate how reuse can save the planet in tiny ways. Here are some excellent ways to introduce this lesson:
- Have them go around the house and refill containers for soap, cleaning liquids and water bottles
- Teach them to use only the number of paper towels or napkins they need
- Turn old items into fun craft projects for them on the weekends
- Have them help you get your coffee in a refillable cup or use only regular utensils instead of plastic or paper options
- Teach them how to mend their clothes and repair items that are falling apart
Start Recycling Early
Recycling can be one of the more challenging things to teach. There’s so much to learn about what can be recycled and how to go about doing so.
But when you teach your kids early, they’ll go into adult life already knowing how to recycle with the best of us. Here are some simple ways to integrate this learning into their lives:
- Volunteer as a family at recycling facilities and help out
- If your area is lacking a program, be the person that steps up to implement one
- Take them with you to recycle dangerous items like batteries, plastic bags, and cell phones.
- Make it a family party when it comes time to separate recycling from trash
Learning how to take better care of our planet starts young. If you begin implementing these habits early on, your kids won’t even think twice about recycling, reusing, and reducing their waste as they get older.