Raising the Next Generation to Be Eco-Conscious
If you have children or are considering it in the future, you may have some concerns about what the world will look like as they grow up. While your climate anxiety is valid, the best thing you can do for your child is teach them to care for the environment. Here are four simple ways to raise the next generation to be eco-conscious.
1. Spend More Time Outdoors
You can’t respect something you don’t love. Kids who play and explore nature outside the house are more likely to grow up as environmental stewards.
Running barefoot on grass, climbing trees, collecting leaves of various colors, shapes and textures, and observing insects up close are nothing but play for youngsters. However, their innate curiosity about the world around them encourages them to ask questions, understand how things work and appreciate the interconnectedness of everything.
Outdoor play makes childhood fun and unforgettable. It gives little ones their first taste of independence and introduces them to new friends. Catching some sun, feeling fresh breezes and listening to the sound of a flowing river bring about a sense of peace.
It’s human nature to protect what’s close to your heart, so make it easier for children to fall in love with the natural world by immersing them in it.
2. Watch Nature Documentaries
Children are wildly imaginative. However, it can be difficult for them to fathom the plight of animals they don’t get to see often firsthand. While the zoo can be a great place to discover exotic critters, documentaries allow your kids to observe the everyday lives of wild creatures safely.
Nature documentaries can increase children’s knowledge of biodiversity, illustrate the dynamics between predators and prey, and highlight the impact of human activity on ecosystems.
Knowing about past mass extinction events — like what ended the reign of dinosaurs — can demonstrate how precious the world is. It can motivate young minds to preserve the ideal conditions for life to survive.
3. Practice Gardening
Growing plants in the yard is an effective trick for teaching kids about photosynthesis, the carbon cycle, food production and waste management. It helps them understand the role of plants as oxygen producers and carbon sinks, applying what they learn about climate science from STEM classes.
Hands-on activities are often the best ways to learn. While reading about the life cycle of plants in a textbook can be boring to some children, getting their hands dirty can make learning fun.
Plus, gardening can teach them valuable skills that they can carry on into adulthood. Many adults may be interested in starting a garden, but they don’t know where to start. Give your child a head start by making it a family activity from a young age.
4. Discourage Materialism
Consumerism is a leading driver of climate change, and it continues to get worse each year. To end the cycle, we need to change our children’s expectations about material things.
Encouraging kids to be less materialistic can be challenging because they can feel insecure about what they have and impulsive. Nevertheless, you can try a few tricks. For starters, fight the urge to spoil them.
Instead of buying your kids the latest toys or clothes all the time, give them thoughtful gifts they can genuinely appreciate and use for a long time. Alternatively, prioritize experiences over material objects. Offer to do activities they like rather than purchase unnecessary items. These practices can influence the way they parent in the future, as well.
Make the Next Generation Environmental Allies
Raising an eco-warrior is feasible only when you practice what you preach. Parents are powerful role models. Do things worth emulating, and your kids will follow your lead and care for the environment without trying.
