Tips for Teaching Kids to Keep the Environment Clean

Tips for Teaching Kids to Keep the Environment Clean

by Ann Harrison

Do you find it hard to get kids to help you keep the environment clean at home and in your community? Here are a few tips you can use to make cleaning up the environment fun for the whole family.

Read Books about Nature to Your Child during Bedtime, or Story Time

Children love to be read too, especially before they go to sleep. One of the many ways that you can teach your child about nature and their environment, is to read books such as The Lorax, by Dr.Seuss, Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean, by Arthur Dorros, and other books about nature to them. The more they learn about the environment, the more they’ll want to keep it clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.Window to Garden

If you want to give them something fun to do during a long car trip, or to keep them occupied while you’re making dinner etc., you may want to download an app or some interactive eBooks on your smart phone, or a tablet. Children learn by playing games, so what better way to teach them about keeping the environment clean, by finding them an interactive and educational activity!

Lead by Example

In the same way that younger children learn how to misbehave from older children, they can learn good Earth-saving techniques from the adults in their lives. Set an example for your children, by picking up trash, when you’re out in the community, or by something simple as turning off a light when you leave a room. If a child sees his or her parents keeping the environment clean and safe, they are more than likely, not only learn to do the same, but they will also teach their friends, by setting an example for them.

Take Your Children Outside

One important way to teach children to care about the environment is to take them outside, so they can learn about it. Not only does going for a walk in your neighborhood, taking your children out into your yard, or to the playground to swing etc., teach them about the world around them, it also is beneficial to adults as well. Getting daily exercise outdoors (weather permitting), has amazing health benefits for you and your child alike.

While spending time outside with your children, try getting them involved in a gardening project. Start with one single plant, they work your way up to a flower or vegetable garden. This will teach children the responsibility of watering, fertilizing, and caring for plants and other living creatures they find in their community.

Call to action

If you want to go online to discover more ways to teach kids about cleaning up the environment, please visit http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/act/fix/change-your-habits/item/400-top-ten-creative-ways-to-teach-kids-about-the-environment.html . However, if you are already incorporating these and other methods of teaching your children or students in your classroom about their environment, please feel free to share your suggestions in the comments below.

About the Author

Ann Harrison is a totally blind author, who grew up in the small town of Rochelle, Georgia, and has moved back to her family home after living in North Georgia for several years. Ann has written many articles of general interest for a number of clients since June of 2010, including the Cordele Dispatch. She has also published a short story entitled “The Big Climb” in Awethology Light. Ann also published a story entitled “The Woods” in December Awethology Light Volume by The #Awethors. She is currently working on several novels, and a self-help book. To read more of Ms. Harrison’s inspirational writings, visit her blog at www.wwannwrites.wordpress.com

 

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