How to raise an environmentally-conscious generation

In recent years, there is a huge focus on caring for the environment and considering ways we can be more eco-friendly, both at home and within our place of work/ play. The future of our planet lies in the hands of our children, which is why it is important parents also teach their children to be kinder to the environment by exploring topics such as global warming, recycling and going green. Here are some useful tips from a junior school in Somerset.

Spend time outdoors with your children

Your child won’t be able to truly respect the environment if they spend all of their time cooped up indoors. Take them out and about to different environments, like the park, a forest, or a beach. If you see that people have littered, talk to your child about how this can harm the local wildlife or sea creatures. Talk about what would happen if all of the trees in the forest were cut down. Help your child understand and love the great outdoors by experiencing and talking about it, and learning more where possible. 

Discuss energy efficiency

Find opportunities to talk to your child about how fortunate they are to have gas, electricity and running water at home. Talk to them about where this comes from and how we should try and conserve it, not only as a way to be kinder to the environment but also to save money on the bills. Remind your child to turn lights off when they leave a room or switch off their chargers when their devices have full battery. Ask them to think of some of their own ideas on how your family could conserve energy so that they are full engaged. 

Educate the next generation about recycling

Teach your child to recycle household waste and chat to them about why this is beneficial to the environment. Essentially, by recycling, there is less need to extract raw materials from the earth, which reduces the disruption to the natural environment. For example, fewer trees need to be cut down and there is less pollution. Explain to them what happens to the rubbish if it isn’t recycled and how it ends up in a landfill.

Teach kids to conserve more and consume less

Simple things such as switching the lights off when leaving a room; turning the water tap off whilst brushing teeth; re-using items till the end rather than wasting are small actions that lead to big changes. When hosting your child’s birthday party, make it a habit to use eco-friendly disposable plates, cutlery and serving dishes rather than plastic or paper ones. Instil a habit of consuming less and conserving more in your children from the start.