Teaching Children to Be Environmentally Responsible

If you're an environmentally responsible individual, yousubstances, and using recycled products in your home.
probably want others to become more aware of howEven if you can't explain what you are doing due to
their actions affect the environment and learn howtheir ages, your children will pick up on your actions and
they can make changes that create positive results.mimic them. It's important to set a good example so
Children should also be taught to be environmentallythey'll mimic positive actions.
responsible because they are the ones who will needGetting Involved Together
to continue doing so in the future. If children startYou can help your child learn about the environment
learning about the environment at an early age, they'llby participating in environmental conservation, recycling,
be better able to incorporate being environmentallyand other related activities with him or her. This is a
responsible into their lives. Knowing how you can teachgreat way to spend time together while you show
your children about protecting the environment canyour child something of value that they can use in their
help you to teach them how to become gooddaily lives for many years to come. You may take
stewards of the environment on a daily basis.your child on a nature walk, have them sort your
Environmental Educationrecyclable items, or work with your child on a poster or
Many public schools now require that students learnessay about the importance of the environment. It is
about the environment, recycling, and other issuesimportant that you explain what you're doing so that
affecting our communities and natural resources.your child knows you're not just having a good time.
Educators are involving students in educationalObserving Others
programs and hands-on activities that help children toYour child can learn a lot just by observing other family
understand what the environment is, why we need tomembers, teachers, and friends. If you create a
protect it, and what they can do to help at such asituation or environment where you can put some of
young age. As a part of environmental education,what has been taught into practice, then you can
many students also get to participate in environmentalcreate a positive learning experience for your child. Let
projects that help reinforce the concepts taught byyour son or daughter invite friends over for a recycling
teachers and other school professionals.party. Volunteer to lead your child and a group of
Setting a Good Examplefriends on an environmental educational trip. Combining
Children often mimic what you say and do, so beclassroom education with observation and reinforced
environmentally responsible so that your children canpractice of what has been taught will help your child to
watch and learn from you. Show your child what isunderstand his or her role in the environment and take
right by not littering, recycling as many items as yousteps to make a difference.
can, properly disposing of potentially harmful