When you are talking with your children about the environment and climate change you may want to introduce them to the issue using books and activities on the Internet. In addition, you may want to introduce them to some hands-on activities that can help them learn to recycle, appreciate nature outdoors, learn to save energy in a home, and find local community projects that address the environment.
Use Books and the Internet to Talk About Environmental Change and Pollution
One of the best books to discuss climate change with children is Dr. Seuss and The Lorax. If you read it aloud to your children and discuss the story after, it tells a tale of pollution of the air and water that kills fish and drives the wildlife away. The rhyming technique makes it a favorite with children of all ages. After reading the book you can discuss climate change and some of the concepts with your child.
Depending on the age of your children, you might want to keep your discussion simple Reading a book written for your children’s age group about the environment will encourage their interest in the topic. One of the effects of polluting the environment is that many animals have become endangered species. Don’t Let Them Disappear is a book that discusses 12 endangered species from around the world and how kids can take action to help them. Another book, Ten Things I Can Do To Help My World, discusses simple ideas of what kids can do to improve the planet. When you read a book aloud to your children and discuss it after, this is an active way to introduce new information.
There are many good books about the environment and climate change for children. Seeds of Change is about an environmental activist from Kenya named Wangari Maathai. Reading books about activists gives your children a role model to look up to for environmental changes. Try to find environmental websites with interactive activities as another way to discuss the environment with your children. Earth Easy has several environmental websites for children of different ages listed. Activities that teach how to recycle, make your home more energy efficient and appreciate the outdoors are good choices.
Involve Them In Simple Chores to Learn About Recycling
You will want to explain recycling and why we do it to your children. Introduce your children to simple recycling tasks, like putting items in the right bins for recycling. Let them wash dishes by hand to learn about conserving water or only running the dishwasher when it is full not half empty. You can watch a recycling program on TV and discuss ways to recycle at home.
Start recycling junk mail and use a recycling bag or box for paper that your children can fill. Have a recycle box for paper, pencils, crayons, and art supplies. After they use them, they can put them in the box to be used again. Discuss the role of oil and gas and the role it has in heating our homes and businesses. The first oil pipeline was built in the US in 1862 in Pennsylvania. Discuss oil spills and some of the negative environmental pollution caused by this product. Teach them ways to make your home more energy efficient.
Go Walking Outdoors and Do Simple Gardening
Get outdoors in nature and walk in local parks to help kids appreciate nature and the environment. When you are walking make sure they learn not to litter and put trash in trash barrels or carry empty cups and containers home to dispose of them. Discuss with them how the outdoors has been polluted by humans and the results. Have them help in the garden by weeding and watering or caring for a houseplant indoors. These activities help them to actively care for the environment.
Save Energy At Home and Find Community Projects
Have your children learn to make your home more energy efficient by not using hot water unless it is needed, turning off lights when not using them, and turning off the TV and computer. Show them how to turn down the thermostat to save energy and money. In 2018 the cost of fuel was 24% of fuel companies’ complete costs per mile. These are some ways to save energy in the house.
Look for projects in the community where your children can participate in recycling or cleaning up a park, maintaining a community garden, or learning to grow vegetables and herbs. Learn about how materials are recycled, like wood, steel, and rocks. Steel is one of the most recycled materials with a rate of 90%. Recycled materials can make your home more energy-efficient.
These are ways to discuss the environment with your children and activities to help them learn to actively participate in improving the environment.
