8 Ways To Teach Kids Green Habits

There’s a lot of green sprouting up in April, and perhaps even a little spring cleaning has begun. If you’ve been working towards ‘greening’ your home and your habits, have you involved your little ones? We know it’s important to instill healthy eating habits in kids as early as possible, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t also be teaching your children eco-friendly habits as the 2 go hand in hand. Here are 8 ways to teach kids green habits:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Teach your children to limit waste by getting them reusable lunch boxes and snack storage containers, how to reuse plastic bags, and show them how to separate recyclable items. Also, bring a reusable shopping bag when you take them shopping with you and ignite their creativity by asking them for ideas about how to reuse old items. Teach kids to turn off lights when they leave the room and to turn  the water off while they are brushing their teeth.
2. Plant A Garden: It doesn’t have to be a major yard remodel; you can start small by planting veggies seeds, flowers, or herbs in pots- any of which kids will beam with pride as they watch them grow. Let kids dig in the dirt and experience all the fun things the nature has to offer.
3. Get Outside: Take kids for a walk in nature and talk about everything you see, and how important it is that we take care of the environment. Let them explore the beauty of nature with a hike by a stream, creek, or flowering trees.
4. Go To The Farmer’s Market: This is a double bonus as you may also get kids to eat more veggies by letting them pick out what foods they’d like to try. You can explain along the way that the vendors are local farmers, the food available is grown close to their house, and every produce item there has a particular season for growing and cultivating. Visit Local Harvest to find a farmers market near you.
5. Volunteer Together: Is there a local beach or park clean up available? A neighborhood recycling drive? It’s a fun family activity to do together while teaching children the importance of giving back. Check out Habitat for Humanity for some fun volunteer opportunities.
6. Read Books Together About The Environment: There are several children’s books out that talk about the environment, and are great to read together. A few options include:
   • The Trouble With Dragons by Debi Gliori
   • Hey! What’s That Nasty Whiff? By Julie Jarman and Garry Parsons
   • The Wombles to The Rescue by Elizabeth Beresford
   • The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
7. Clear the Clutter: If you’re still overwhelmed with a mess of holiday or birthday presents, set a day to get rid of old toys, clothes, and other clutter lying around the house. Take the items to a donation center together or have a garage sale. Explain to your children the importance of only buying things you actually need.
8. Lead by Example: The “do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t really fly if you want your kids to pick up healthy behaviors. They are watching you, so lead by example adhering to green habits yourself.