Earth Day is arriving next week--and guess what? Children fear that soon we won't be celebrating any additional Earth Days. In a survey commissioned by HabitatHeroes.com, more than half believe the earth will not be a good place to live when they grow up. One in three fear the demise of the planet.
Sharon Lowe, mother of three, environmental activist, and creator of HabitatHeroes.com, offers these tips to help parents allay their kid's fears about the environment:
-Communication is key. Parents need to be open and honest with their children.
-Allow your children to ask questions. Acknowledge their fears as real, no matter how big or small. Explain in a manner they can relate to. Show them pictures.
Visit websites like Habitat Heroes and engage in child friendly games and activities to help explain the issues in a way that is not scary.
Habitat Heroes offers printable activity sheets and lesson plans which can help reinforce your conversations. You can also find out if your child's class is being educated about topics that they are fearful of. Many schools are taking the initiative to teach students about these environmental and social issues and how to cope.
As with anything parents should always lead by example. Here are some simple ways to educate kids about being green.
1) Add more clothing before adding more heat.
2) Take off a layer of clothing before turning up the air conditioning.
3) Replace light bulbs with energy efficient ones. Make it an activity with the kids.
4) Turn off electrical appliances at the powerpoint, not just the switch.
5) Turn off the TV when you leave the room.
6) Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
7) Open up curtains and enjoy natural light.
8) Take recycled / hemp shopping bags with you instead of using plastic bags.
9) Place food scraps into a compost bin for your garden. You can turn that into a fun activity for the kids. They will love watching the worms!
10) Recycle plastics, glass and paper in the appropriate places. Check if your municipality or local stores recycle electronic goods and furniture.
For more information check out Habitat Heores