Actually that is probably a lie. There is every chance your child will still poke tongues at you later on, but just not for reason of valuing our planetary resources.In a world where everything just materialises, teaching your child where things come from, how things grow, how materials and energy go into making stuff etc; instills healthy habits through respect for food sources, supply, other people (and animals) and probably honest work if you are really lucky. Many schools, particularly in the primary years, are active planetary advocates with kids, with all manner of recycling programs, school produce gardens and activities around the reaping & use of gardens.For a child to understand how things arrive at the front door, onto a plate or into a wardrobe helps them to value the systemic nature of how we all live. Here are some of the tips we have gathered from our members:
Even if you don't obsess about climate change, you can be pretty sure your children will. Our children will live with the consequences of our actions and as the decision makers of the future, they will be in charge of what we leave behind. Understanding how things work from a young age is an invaluable gift.
Getting your children involved in simple things like planting trees and kitchen gardens gives them a living, rewarding and responsive understanding of where food comes from and how hard it is to produce, as well as a clear view of the cycle of life.
It is a bizarrely worthwhile exercise (I promise) to take your child to the local garbage tip and transfer station and broaden their understanding of what happens to unwanted stuff and just how much of it there is when you see a whole city's waste in one place. With the excuse of taking your child in hand, you'll get some real insights yourself!