Here’s why children must learn environmental education from an early age

Whether you are looking for a CBSE school in Yelahanka or in any other part of the country, one of the biggest concerns for every parent is to ensure quality education for their children. At a time when COVID-19 has turned the education system upside down, screens have become children’s new best friend. From studies to enjoyment, conversation to games, everything happens at the touch of a finger. rnWhile it is great that little children are now smart enough to call and message their parents / friends, access google and submit homework online, it has had a negative impact on them as well. Going out in nature to play physical games has become rare, children are more lazy and choose to retire behind the screen all the time. This is disconnecting them from the beauty of the environment. rnWhether it is seeing how a bud turns into a flower, how a bird lays an egg or the sounds of the waves hitting the shore, children are slowly forgetting how to enjoy nature. More so, they are unaware of the atrocities humans are doing on the environment and therefore need to be taught otherwise. rnHow can we change this scenario?rnIs there a way to reconnect them to the magnificence of mother nature?rnCan they be advocates for nature as young adults?rnThe answer to these questions is Environmental Education. While we may have found this to be just another subject in school, it is one of the most important ones. It introduces students to the symbiotic nature of the environment, the co-dependency of different species on each other and the knowledge that we are all deeply connected. Be it plants, animals or humans, we are all in the circle of life knowing that we are co-dependent. rnYou may wonder - why is this information important to little children? The answer is simple. Because if they understand this symbiosis at an early age, there are higher chances of raising the next generation to make conscious choices, choose sustainable alternatives and look out for the planet and all its beings. rnIn simple terms, young children’s minds are like sponges. Introducing the right ideas and belief systems from their childhood will set them on the right path for life. Knowledge impacts the attitude which then impacts our behaviour. Developing an ecological mindset in school will ensure children grow up with it to have a strong commitment and positive attitude towards the world around them. rnEnvironmental Education is one such subject which helps little children reconnect with the earth and all its inhabitants, understand their life cycles and learn to respect all life species. Schools that incorporate this subject in their curriculum have shared that their students are more aware and sensitive to their environment. Additionally, they also teach their family members to be sustainable. As a parent, if you are hoping to raise a child who is environmentally aware and conscious, you should look out for an ICSE, CBSE OR IGCSE School in Bangalore or any other metro that includes this as a compulsory subject.