Teaching our younger generations to care for the environment is an important responsibility for us all, but sometimes the number of things to do to help the planet can feel a little overwhelming! Taking one step at a time when going green can make the lifestyle changes much easier and they all add up to make a big difference. Children are often eager and enthusiastic to lend a helping hand and like being involved, so here’s our top tips to encourage the children we know to take little steps to being green…..and to do ourselves of course!

 

		The power switch
		One simple way we can conserve the Earth’s resources is by not using more electricity than we need. Teach children to turn off lights when they leave a room and turn off the TV if they are not watching it.
		Pull the plug
		Even when electronics and appliances are turned off, they still consume energy if plugged in the electrical outlet. Conserve energy by teaching older children to unplug their game systems, computers, chargers, or audio equipment. Little ones can participate too by becoming the family “plug police” and inform the grown ups of any unused household equipment that is plugged into an electrical outlet.
		Tighten up
		Encourage children to check water taps in the house to make sure they are tightened and inform a grown up if any taps leak. A drop-per-second leak wastes about 2,400 gallons of water a year.
		Turn off the tap
		Water should not be running while children brush their teeth. Teach children to turn off the tap and reduce shower time to conserve energy.
		Collect rain water
		Water can be recycled too! Children often enjoy collecting rainwater. The next time it rains, place a bucket or container outside and put a heavy rock or brick inside to prevent it from tipping over. When the rain is done, they will have a fresh supply of water to feed household and garden plants.
		Use community resources
		Libraries carry more than books. Selections of CDs, audio tapes and DVDs are also available. Some communities have toy lending libraries. Learn about community resources and encourage children to find items that are new to them instead of purchasing new things.
		Pass it on
		Clothes, toys and other household items that are no longer used can be donated to organisations instead of thrown into the bin. Pick through items with your children and find a local organisation that will benefit from your donation. Some suggestions of places to donate to are charity shops, doctors’ surgeries, homeless centres and schools. There may even be local jumbles or events where they are raising money for charities and will be happy to accept donations.
		Litter free lunch challenge
		Packaging our children’s lunches can create a lot of waste. Most disposable items can be replaced by reusable ones. Involve your children in finding creative ways to pack a healthy lunch that leaves no rubbish behind. Try inexpensive stainless steel cutlery instead of plastic, cloth napkins rather than paper, or thermoses, reusable plastic containers instead of disposable plastic or paper.
		Resuse or recycle
		Teaching children to place recyclable items in the recycle bin is an important way to help the environment. Finding creative ways to reuse household items is another. Make it a fun challenge for the entire family. Be creative and you’ll be surprised how easily an empty cereal box can be transformed into a letter holder, or how quickly an empty shoebox can turn into a storage container for photos and artwork. The possibilities are endless! You’ll be reducing waste and having a fun time with the children’s new ideas.
		Bike or walk
		Going somewhere doesn’t always mean having to use a car. Encourage your children to walk or ride their bikes for short trips. For younger children, grab your running shoes and walk or bike with them. In addition to reducing pollution, the entire family will benefit from some exercise.

 

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