Teaching kids to be eco-friendly
 I remember hearing the saying “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children" for the first time. My son hadn’t been born yet then, but it really struck a chord. Now that I have a child, I try my best to reduce, reuse and recycle, and educate myself on green initiatives, so that I can do my part to pass on a living planet to his generation. Then, one day I thought to myself, “Hey, it’s never too early to teach kids about being green”, and so I began talking to him about things like recycling and the planet.
My son being 4 years old, I wasn’t sure if the little things I’ve told him about recycling had stuck. But, one day, he found a one sen coin on the living room floor, picked it up and handed it to me saying “Mummy, this is for recycling”, and mummy sure had a big smile on her face that day! I suppose when you’re trying to teach your kids about a complex issue like saving the earth, you will have to gauge how old they are and how much they can take on. But, in any case, I think the best way to teach them, is by setting a good, green example. Remember, monkey see, monkey do!
Here are some things you can do with your kids, to kick start a green initiative in your home:
1. What a waste
Explain to them why we need to sort out our rubbish, and what recycling is. Tell them that a lot of the things we throw away can be reused to make something else. Get your kid to help you sort out your recyclables: paper, plastic, glass etc.
2. It’s alive!
Plant something. Explain to them why we need to care for living things, like animals, plants and ourselves. Talk to them about how plants make oxygen for us to breathe. If you can’t plant a tree, make do with a potted plant, get your kids to help you water your garden.
3. List it down
Teach your kids that you shouldn’t buy stuff you won’t use, because it’s a waste of money and it also means less packaging ends up in the bin. To help the entire family stay off impulse buys, male shopping lists and stick to it!
4. Bag it
Get your kids to help you pick a strong carrier bag that can be used again and again. Explain to them tat this means you won’t need to throw away lots of plastic bags. Take it with you every time your family goes shopping. Let them see the bag in action, let them see you say ‘no’ to plastic bags.
5. New lease of life
Before you chuck something out, ask your kid his opinion. As him “Is this something we can use again?” Remember, little things count, for example: paper can be used on both sides, plastic bottles can be used to make crafts, and the clothes and toys you’ve outgrown can go to charity.
If you need some help with visuals to help your kids get the message, I find that websites are a great resource. Many of the best green websites for kids that I’ve found on the web are based in the UK, but there’s no reason why we can’t apply the know-how in our own homes. My family’s favourites include:
Recycle Zone: http://www.recyclezone.org.uk
National Geographic Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.co.uk
Kids Green: http://www.kidsrgreen.org/krg.html
Charlie and Lola – look after your planet: http://www.charlieandlola.com/planet/planet-game.html
NC4K – Nature Challenge for Kids by David Suzuki: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/kids
* Adline A. Ghani is an assistant museum curator tandem mummy who resides in Petaling Jaya. This multi-tasker is also pursuing her Masters in Art and Design.
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