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| Raising a child who cares about the world |
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Young children have a natural curiosity about the environment. The natural world offers so much opportunity for exploration, and every time they step outside they discover something new - flowers to smell, insects to chase, trees to climb or clouds in the bright blue sky to watch.
Establishing an emotional connection to this amazing world from an early age will instil an understanding and respect for the systems that make the world so incredible.
It's never too early to begin teaching our children to care about the world; the idea of raising a generation of people who will care for and improve the environment is definitely possible. These values begin at home and within the local community, and are ideals that grow with a child to form a basis for their future. And these values will extend beyond the environment to teach them to be respectful, compassionate adults.
By focusing on age-appropriate activities and realistic achievements, we can lay the foundations for this in their formative years. However, rather than teaching children that we need to ‘save' the planet, by building a connection to the world around them and developing a love and respect for nature, we can teach children to love the world and live kindly within it—to be a part of the solution.
Pre-schoolers
These early years are a great time to focus on values. Choose the values you want to encourage - such as empathy, kindness and respect - and expose your child to situations where they can use (and you can praise) the traits.
Children learn their behaviours from our behaviour, so make these things a natural part of daily life - switch off the lights, turn off the tap when brushing teeth, recycle containers, be kind to others.
Understanding things that are happening in other countries is hard for kids at this age, so focus on local things - plant some trees, set up a family vegetable garden and do kind things together; kids will always remember these days you spend together and the happiness it can bring.
Kindergarten - Year 2
These years are a wonderful time, when kids begin to understand the world around them. Explain where products come from and the cycle that natural resources go through. Also explain recycling and the benefits for the planet, and have them help rinse out containers and put them in the recycling bin. Use reusable packaging for lunchboxes, and explain why. Take them shopping with cloth bags, so there is opportunity to discuss the concerns of plastic bags. You can also show them the recycled logo on packaging and they can help choose eco-friendly products.
Children in this age group love to get more involved and do things for themselves - turning off lights, growing vegetables, or composting - so pass the responsibility of these things over to them.
This age group still doesn't have a full understanding of the larger world, but it's a great time to get involved in the local community - you could organise a neighbourhood clean up, or join in with a Clean Up Australia event.
It is also a great time to begin to encourage them to think of opportunities where they can make a difference and praise them for their critical thinking. Actions don't have to be world changing, every little makes a difference.
Years 3 - 6
With a greater understanding of the world around them and key values in place, these years are the perfect time to develop the values and promote independent choices. As they become old enough, encourage walking or cycling to places.
It is also a good age to become involved in local volunteering - a planted garden can be shared with a soup kitchen; second-hand clothes could be collected for a shelter.
Expand their understanding of produce by showing them ingredients lists on foods, try and only buy foods with ingredients you recognise! Give experience gifts - such as a rock-climbing session or trampolining - as birthday presents, rather than toys or games.
Expand their understanding of produce by showing them ingredients lists on foods, try and only buy foods with ingredients you recognise! Give experience gifts - such as a rock-climbing session or trampolining - as birthday presents, rather than toys or games.
These years are also an ideal time to begin to encourage children to think things through - thinking critically about what affect their choices will have on the world around them. Create situations where together you can experience, problem-solve an issue with a positive outcome - build something out of solely recycled materials, find proactive ways to cut the household energy bill by 10 per cent. If they have a science project at school, look at renewable energies or the water cycle.
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