Being more eco-friendly and having a greater awareness of our actions and their implications on our world has become a hot topic. Whether we are considering our day-to-day habits or making more serious changes to our lifestyles, it is time to make the alterations that we can to help our environment, ensuring that we leave the world in a healthy state for future generations.
Whilst considering our daily lives and choices is vital when it comes to protecting our environment, it is also our responsibility to educate children and instil in them positive and caring values when it comes to becoming more eco-aware.
What can we do to help?
Time is precious; making permanent changes to the way you do things can often be more helpful than doing things sporadically or when you can. Having systems in place and routines can allow you to make more positive changes to the world. Some things you can do to make a difference to your everyday life are:
☑ Recycle everything – Standard recycling aside, keep a box to put used materials in for craft activities. Everyone loves junk modelling so don’t be too hasty when throwing away cardboard or plastic packaging and see what you can make with it first. It can always end up in the recycling bin once it has taken centre stage as a rocket ship!
☑ Use less plastic – although this is sometimes out of our control, using canvas bags, reusable Tupperware instead of sandwich bags, reusable bottles and flasks as opposed to buying from a shop are small things that we can do to help.
☑ Compost – if you or the family you work for have a garden, why not have a compost bin for all of your food waste. Help your garden to grow.
☑ Buying second hand – there are so many amazing things in second hand shops that are often overlooked. Whether it is books or toys you are looking for, check second hand shops first. It will save some money and help the environment too!
☑ Diet – think carefully about how much meat you are consuming and consider substituting two of these meals a week for a chickpea curry or some other delicious vegetarian meal.
Educating Children:
This is perhaps one of the most important things that you can do when it comes to helping to improve our world. If the next generation are taught to care for the environment, developing a greater respect for nature, we have a better chance of making a continued difference.
Taking children outside to play amongst nature is a great way to start and having them help you with the garden, planting vegetables or flowers, will give them a little ownership and motivate them to take control. Small projects in the local area can be a good way to get young people involved and often results in them spreading the word amongst their peers.
Conserving water and energy is an important habit to teach your charge. Simply turning of the tap mid-way through brushing their teeth and turning off lights when they leave a room will promote positive values, developing respect for resources.
Making small changes to our lifestyles could have a huge impact on our environment. Encourage your charges to take control and make a difference for the future.