Happy Earth Day 2009!
With all of the Earth Day events going on this week, there is a lot of talk about going green. I’ll be honest, I am not anywhere near as green as I should be. But I am learning.
Green means different things to different people. It can be difficult to keep up with all of the ways we are supposed to be changing our lives to make the Earth a better place to be. We all know that we are supposed to turn off unnecessary lights, and not waste water. Those reusable grocery bags make a huge impact. Bonus? The bags won’t rip while you are carrying them up the steps to your home, scattering groceries all over the place.
As parents, it is our job to raise our children to respect and protect the environment. I think this is the hardest part of the green movement. So many children spend most of their time indoors, watching the TV or playing on the computer. Children will not respect what they don’t experience. If we want our children to get involved in the environment, we need to take away the TV and send them outside to play. Kudos if you can bring them to a large park, or some other place where they can really enjoy the wildlife. Teach them about how pollutants, litter, and other trash can affect the environment.
It takes more than just telling your children that protecting the environment is important. You have to live by the advice you give them. No fair explaining why recycling is so essential, and then throwing the jelly jar into the trash. Children learn by example; make sure you are setting the right one.
Pick out a family project. Try to find something that will improve the environment and provide a great learning opportunity. This could be anything from planting a vegetable garden to spending a weekend gathering trash from the side of a road. Younger children will enjoy learning about how plants grow by working through a few simple activities, such as planting seeds in a cup or other small container and monitoring them. Have older children? Consider making your own wind turbine or solar panels.
Books are a great way to teach your children, and yourself, about the environment. I recommend these:
The Lorax
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution–and How It Can Renew America
Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home
365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play–Every Day!
Earth day is important, and it is essential that our children understand why. We need to protect the planet for them, and for other future generations, and, as parents, it is our job to teach our children to do the same.
So, how are you celebrating Earth Day?
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YAY! As an eco-scientist, I approve of this message
Great message here! And, I love your book suggestions.
My children and I went to a playground today and picked up the trash scattered around before playing. I try to do this on other days too. After all, every day should be Earth Day.
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