Start Them Young: Why it’s Crucial We Educate Our Kids on Sustainability
When it comes to the climate crisis, it seems as if we are all waiting for someone else to take care of it. We want the next generation to handle it. This should not be the case, but if it is, we want that generation to be prepared and have the knowledge they need to actively fight climate change. There are many ways to go about educating kids on the importance of sustainable living. It’s all of our responsibility, but education starts in the home.
If you are a parent, or caregiver or spend a lot of time with little ones, here are a few ways you can start sustainable education today:
Model what you want to see. Children are always watching their parents. If you recycle in your home, your kids will learn to recycle. If you mend clothing before buying new, your kids will assume that is the norm. They watch your every move. When you make sustainable swaps in your home, take the time to educate your kids on what you did and why it matters.
Take your family outside. Camping trips or long hikes are a great way to get in touch with nature and provide your kids with unforgettable experiences. But it doesn’t have to be that big of a commitment, even just setting aside time each day for your family to walk around your neighborhood allows you and your kids to experience the natural world together. This also provides opportunities for conversations about sustainability.
Do your family shopping at a refillery. Imagine if children grew up seeing a refillery as the norm. As they grow into adulthood, it would be a no-brainer for them to look to refill options before buying new. Stocking up on laundry detergent, dish soap, and other household items at your local refillery, using bottles and jars you brought from home, is a great learning experience for kids.
Start a garden. Kids learn through doing. Even if you don’t have the greenest thumb, you can start small. Plant some flowers and have your children water them each day. Or grow vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. Your family will love being able to eat and enjoy what you grew in your own backyard.
Attend community events that support environmental efforts. Get your family involved around your local city by planting flowers and doing beach clean-ups. Bring your kids to a Lite Foot clothing or hobby swap. You can RSVP here.
Lite Foot Foundation wants to help you educate on sustainable practices. That is why they have created the Environmental Education program. For students ages K-8, Lite Foot wants to join forces with schools and local libraries to offer fun, interactive learning experiences.
In-school assemblies - The Lite Foot team wants to come and speak at your child’s school. These assemblies will be interactive with a focus on the importance of reuse and sustainable at-home practices. When first getting started, these assemblies will address simple concepts like the journey of a single-use plastic bottle and the impact choosing alternative options can have. We will provide easy and attainable takeaways about reuse, refilling, and plastic alternatives that students will be excited to go home and try out with their families.
K-8 In-classroom presentations - For the teachers doing a unit on green energy or celebrating Earth Day every day, Lite Foot wants to add enrichment to your classroom. Someone from our team would be happy to come in and speak on a topic of your choosing. As we grow this program, a goal would be to also provide students with sustainable items they can take away from these presentations, like reusable cutlery for their lunches or a refillable water bottle.
Eco-Day Camp - For your sustainability-loving kids we plan to offer 2- 4 day camps for kids ages 8 - 12. These camps will operate during the summer months for kids to spend time going deeper into environmental issues and what they can do to help. We want to create immersive experiences for kids with a curriculum that will provide tangible takeaways each day. Daily activities may include upcycling workshops and waste sorting to determine what is recyclable, compostable, or trash. These camps will make sustainability fun and accessible.
Through these three paths, the Lite Foot Foundation hopes to build a new generation of sustainable, thoughtful humans. Young people who know the importance of taking care of our things and not indulging in over-consumption. In educating the children of the community, we are setting our entire city up for success and actually being the change we want to see.
