The world is keen on conserving the environment in the wake of scarce resources and growing competition. Environmental catastrophes are also threatening gains made over centuries of civilisation. The best way to preserve the earth is to teach kids at the earliest stage.
The curriculum has provided numerous lessons on the world and how to maintain an eco-friendly environment. Parents and guardians also have a huge responsibility to teach their children about the environment. Here are tips on how parents, teachers, and society can teach kids to be environmentally sensitive.
Lead by example
Kids learn best by example. They will imitate what you do, even without understanding the implications. Leading by example is the best strategy to instill life-long lessons in children. Find biology homework help online assistance to help your kids with school assignments and create more time to teach them about the environment through examples.
Switch off the lights if the room is not in use. Conserve water by closing taps and repairing broken faucets. Choose environmentally friendly products on the shelves. These actions instill life-long lessons in the children. They remember the lessons into their adulthood.
The lesson on environmental conservation must be deliberate. Endeavor to show the need for a clean environment wherever you are. Once the kids pick the vibe, they will never depart from the path even in your absence.
Let the kids account for their waste
Do not pick waste after the kids. They must account for any wastage as well as the environment once they are done with a particular task. While you might throw out the trash, each kid must understand the need to conserve as much as possible. Do not condone littering in private or in public.
Children should account for containers, wrappers, and excess materials they carry from home. If a bulb is on or the AC is running, the child should explain its importance. The mental calculations and the habit of cleaning after using any space will instill a sense of responsibility. It is the best strategy to remove litter from the road and public places. It also ensures that the kids dispose of only what should be thrown away.
Participate in campaigns
Involve children in campaigns and activism activities about the environment. The discussions that happen on the sidelines of such activities will awaken their sensitivity to environmental conservation. Campaigns also create memories that will awaken their concern for the environment in the future.
Allow the kids and their peers to organize these activities. Let them generate ideas that you support materially or through participation. It gives the kids the confidence to fight for their environment in the future. Such campaigns also provide a template that they can use in the future to safeguard their environment.
Provide reading materials
A lot of scholars, activists, enthusiasts, and institutions have written on the environment. The materials are available in a child-friendly format. Pick such materials and engage the kid in reading.
Reading materials play a double role. They will help the kid to improve his reading skills while at the same time instilling the idea of the environment into their minds. Pick books and other learning materials of their age. You will improve the quality of content with time.
Explain the environment
Children are curious and will always ask about the environment. Provide the answers they are looking for. Use simple language and examples to explain the concepts about environmentally-friendly life.
Explanations fill the information gaps in the minds of the children. It also arouses their curiosity, pushing them to learn more about the environment. Provide visual materials that help the kids to understand these ideas better.
Support their initiatives
Children will come up with eco-friendly initiatives, even though they appear to like games. Support their initiatives and guide them to improve the outcomes. For instance, they may organize walks and debates around the neighborhood. Participate by providing facilitators and the materials required to make the event a success. It boosts their confidence and affirms their ideas about the need for the environment.
Think of the environment at the level of the kids. Prepare materials that these kids can identify with. Support and affirm their ideas on the environment. You will be raising the next generation of environmentally sensitive global citizens.
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