Teaching children about environmental responsibility

Teaching your child to recycle, respect the environment and consume less is the best way to raise awareness about the environment and create eco-friendly citizens. Not throwing rubbish on the ground, turning off the light when you leave a room, walk, bike or use public transport instead of driving. There are plenty of little things to do on a daily basis to help preserve our planet. It's so easy to teach our little people, but we have to be good role models.

Everyday, the whole family can opt for basic environmental responsibility by taking these small actions:

• Turn off the water tap when washing your teeth

• Turn off the light when leaving a room

• Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables

• When taking small trips, think about using the bikes instead of using the car

Sorting and recycling as a family

You can teach your child to do selective sorting, that is to sort waste by category (food, paper, glass and plastic). Sorting the waste makes your children aware of how much waste we produce. A Kinder-egg on a Saturday produces plastic. When children are aware of sorting and recycling, they notice all the plastic packaging that follows getting a new toy. They think and question it.

For those who have access to a garden, it's easy to make compost. Recycle vegetable peels, egg shells and left over food and make a pile in the garden so that they degrade naturally. Seeing how food waste turns into soil, is amazing to little minds.

Upcycling projects for the family

There are so many fun upcycling and recycling projects to do together as a family. Using plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, egg trays, old furniture and old clothes. Pinterest is the perfect place to get ideas and find instructions for upcycling projects. These family activities are fun and can be used to teach your child about environmental responsibility.

Observe nature

If you live in the city, you might have to put more effort into discovering nature as a family. Even though the city life is great, with public parks, playgrounds and cultural events, it's important to discover the nature. Making a day-trip to the nearest forest, lake or mountain can be a perfect place to learn about the amazing mother nature. Family activities like skiing, fishing and hiking are the ideal opportunity to introduce your child to the nature and circle of life. You can use the opportunity to explain how nature works. A plant that needs light and water to grow. How to treat and feed small animals you encounter. Why we have to protect our planet.

Grow plants!

Gardening is a great way to introduce young children to nature in a meaningful and rewarding way. You can build a small garden station together. Your child will probably be very happy to sow seeds, water them and then reap the fruits and vegetables. See the results of their work. Children in cities that don’t have a garden will appreciate seeing seeds grow in flower pots on a window sill.

Help them care

For our children to make the good decisions and take action, we have to be good role models. It's good to teach children that their actions have consequences. Encourage them to ask questions. There is no age limit on when you can learn about environmental responsibility.