Even though not one person is the same, everybody on Earth shares at least one thing in common. We all have to live on it. Our Earth constantly takes a beating through various practices that we often don’t think twice about. If kids are watching our moves, we may just perpetuate habits to the next generation. To ensure we’re giving them a happy Earth to live in we should model good behaviors to make a difference.

Help Them Understand
Sometimes it can be hard for children to understand the concept of being wasteful, but there are several ways that you can educate them. For starters, teach them simple energy saving tips like turning the water off while brushing their teeth or turning the lights off when they aren’t in a room. By teaching them at an early age, they will absorb the information and continue the habits later on. Explain to them that others may not have access to some of the things that they have, which could help them better understand the importance of saving resources.

Another tactic to education is by teaching them about how certain habits can harm the environment. Let them explore fun and informational sites about the environment, such as kidsbegreen.org. Sites like this offer games and other fun activities that allow kids to be kids, but also teaches them an important lesson about helping out.

Be a Role Model
Ever notice how kids will try to mimic the things that grown ups do? That’s because at a certain age they want to be just like you. That means you should set a good example when it comes to helping the environment. Make sure to point out to them when you are doing good things, such as recycling paper instead of throwing it away, or even donating gently used clothes to a nonprofit organization where others could get good use of them. These things may seem obvious to you, but children don’t always understand what it means to the environment. By pointing out what you’re doing, kids will want to follow in your footsteps and lend a hand.

Get Them Moving
Getting them to help make the environment a better place doesn’t have to stop at your home. Take them out into the community to help pick up trash. While you’re doing it, explain to them what pollution is and why it matters to the environment. Children are especially receptive to hands on activities, and will end up learning more than they would if you simply tried explaining it to them without activities.

Getting kids to participate in conserving our community’s environment will get them to think about other things that drive their spirits. Encourage them to discover their passions and then help them pursue those passions to make a difference on this Earth.