5 Ways to Encourage Families to be Environmentally-Friendly

You want to help the environment. You want to teach your children good stewardship. You can do both easily by making family activities environmentally-friendly. Planning activities around the natural world can be fun and educational for all members of the family. Make Recycling a Part of Everyday Chores Even the youngest children can help with recycling chores. For instance, a toddler or preschooler can help an adult or older child sort recyclables. You can use the opportunity to teach the difference between aluminum/tin cans, glass, plastic, paper, and other materials. It also makes a good opportunity to teach colors - based on can/glass color or label colors, and counting. An older child can help by rinsing out the cans, containers and bottles. The younger children can also handle things like peeling can labels off. Older children can help pick up litter in the yard or empty scraps onto the compost heap. Help Start a Green Club at Your Child's School Many age-appropriate choices exist for environmental-related school clubs. An explorers club that learns about a new rainforest or desert each week works for preschool or kindergarten. Primary and middle school classes may enjoy a gardening or recycled craft projects club. You could also start a club at the local high school. Some choices could include: organic cooking, geocaching, or a nature conservancy club. Clubs foster friendships based on mutual interests and encourage fun learning. Green Vacation Activities Include green activities in your weekend getaways and vacations. Time your beach trip with beach clean-up day. The family can volunteer together, then enjoy a picnic afterward. Museums make another great vacation activity. Take children to a natural science or science museum nearby. While there, discuss careers in the environment and conservation, and necessary educational goals to reach those careers, such as a master’s in civil engineering or urban planning. Either choice yields different possibilities and opportunities. Plant a Garden Together Glow closer and grow organic produce. You'll foster stewardship of the earth, beautify your property and cut your grocery bill. The website, Kids Gardening, provides getting started guidance, monthly activities, and suggestions for parents to help their children get into gardening and other associated activities. Craft with Recyclables Teach child arts and crafts using recyclables. Many crafting magazines feature children's projects, especially in their summer issues. Children can turn toilet paper rolls, milk cartons, paper plates, glass bottles and many other recyclable items into useful household items like pencil holders or desk organizers. Integrate bits of nature, like pebbles, sea shells, pine cones, or leaves for decorative projects. You can easily integrate activities into your family life that let you enjoy time together while helping environment. Use these five activities as starting points for a greener family life.