I’m pretty certain that among the many reasons why the lot of us, from all over the world get together to fight for the sustainability of our green earth is the fact that we want there to be a and continue to exist a ‘natural future’.
Now whether we want that for ourselves, for the better of all living creatures or simply our children, it doesn’t matter because we are united by the same cause.
And when we speak of the future, how can we not but immediately think of the young? Is it not true that the youths of today will be the leaders of tomorrow?
Well then if that makes sense then surely the reasoning must be obvious when I say too see success in our campaign to save Mother Earth we must recruit our young soldiers.
Now personally I think the best way to teach a child to care about the environment is to expose him to it so that he can learn an appreciation for it.
In fact I feel introducing your child to nature should be done at the soonest possible so it doesn’t appear to him like a culture he needs to adapt to. It doesn’t have to be anything alarming, just taking your baby for a walk among nature counts as an introduction.
On those short strolls, you will not just be bonding with your baby, you’re actually teaching him to be in tune with nature as he will learn to appreciate the little things such as leaves being carried in the breeze or the birds and squirrels about in the trees.
As you child gets older, you can have him or her help you out in the garden. Let him have his own watering can, teach him to observe how there is life everywhere around him, even in the soil. He might not be the greatest gardener but he will grow up to be a wonderful nurturer – and that really is much more precious.
On a daily basis live your lives as you do – in the green way but don’t directly point it out to him that you are recycling or reusing etc. You want him to become accustomed with a green life, adopting it naturally as the only one he will ever know and embrace.
Then once you’ve established that your child is comfortable with the lifestyle and absolutely growing in fondness for nature, subtly explain the benefits of your green acts/organic lifestyle while at it.
Perhaps when you’re handing him an apple, casually mention, “I’ll bet those lovely squirrels are really grateful you’re having this apple!” I know at this point it doesn’t seem to explain anything to him but the idea is to provoke your little eco-warrior’s thoughts and curiosity.
Now because he loves nature and he’s just doing the “normal” things he always does, he’s going to wonder why and how any of what you just said to him makes sense. He is then likely to ask you to explain what’s so special about “this” apple and why would it make them grateful, which then creates the perfect opportunity for you to introduce him to the idea about organic food and how they won’t intoxicate ground water etc.
From that little exercise alone you’ve indirectly achieved two things. Firstly the knowledge that your child’s mind is developing and he is able and ready to take on new information which he has taken action to acquire by asking you. Secondly you’ve just got yourself a little eco-warrior ready to help you out on your journey to keep the earth green!
I’m not saying this is the perfect method of educating your child, an expert would likely say otherwise, but I believe that lessons are best learned when understood and appreciated. So maybe it’s just me…
