Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22. It’s that time of the year to give back to Mother Nature and raise awareness for global issues.
It’s never too early to teach the younger generation how to care for the planet. Global warming is on the rise, and we need everyone to pitch in to help combat this phenomenon. That’s why it’s every parent’s and teacher’s task to be teaching our children how to take care of our earth.
If you are an adult who knows or is close to children, it’s important to instill basic knowledge on how to treat the earth better. Here are a few ways on how you can teach children to care for Mother Earth.
Tutor Them About the Three R’s
The three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) are important steps to cut down the use of products that can harm the environment. You can integrate these practices daily by teaching them to segregate garbage, reusing water bottles, and making a compost pit in the garden. Try to also teach them how not to buy things that they don’t need so they won’t accumulate trash at home or in public. The Three R’s rule is a great starting guide for anyone who wants to help preserve the earth.
Check out these Earth Day activities for more inspiration.
Teach Them To Clean Up After Themselves
Cleaning can be boring, but it is necessary if we want to stay clean and green. At an early age, teach your kids how to pick up for themselves. Turn cleaning time into a game by integrating fun mechanics. Train them to also keep other rooms in the house tidy. And do not let them throw garbage in public. This tip heavily ties back to the first one as you get to practice the Three Rs while keeping the environment clean.
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Instruct Them to Not Waste Water Nor Electricity
Water and electricity are not only costly but misusing them can greatly impact the planet. Teach your kids to not waste energy as these are important resources everyone relies on. Instruct them on simple tasks like switching off lights when leaving rooms, turning the faucet off after washing their hands, and never leaving anything running when not in use. These simple steps will not only cut back on your monthly bills but can greatly help the planet.
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Reward Them For Doing What’s Right
Finally, reward your children for the good work they have done. Children will know if they do something good if they receive praise from an adult. Give them a treat for always cleaning up after themselves, commend them for always conserving the water and electricity, and encourage them to continue separating trash from recycling. Children who receive praises and rewards will turn these practices into habits, and they will later bring these habits into adulthood.
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It’s important we teach children how crucial it is to take care of the earth. At the start, children will learn basic things like how to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable trash and how to always turn off energy if not used. Later on, they will learn to plant trees, use cloth bags, and discover creative ways of recycling.
It’s amazing what early education can do to shape the brains of the youth. That’s why it’s important to start young. The future is in the hands of the children today.
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