#11 - Playful ways of teaching sustainability
This week’s post comes to us from Toronto-based environmental scientist Sarayu Rao.
I remember learning about “sustainability” at the age of nine or ten and diligently memorizing the definition for the sake of an exam: “ meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. For a nine-year-old, this definition simply meant using the earth’s water, land, and forest resources in a judicious manner. I never understood how I could contribute towards achieving a more sustainable future, I just assumed it was something grown-ups had to deal with. Little did I realize that I was already doing my bit because of how I was raised.
Don’t leave the tap on while brushing your teeth! Why are you taking such a long shower? Don’t leave the fridge door open for so long! Turn off the TV and spend some time playing outside! And on weekends, it was a regular family affair to tend to the plants in the garden. These phrases were like a chant in my house and seamlessly got integrated into my adult life.
“Children tend to honor what parents do rather than what they say [1]”
Studies in the past have shown that children often mimic their parents, whether it is choosing a type of food or repeating an action [2,3]. When parents consume a lot of plastic in their day-to-day life or do not actively encourage finishing leftovers, young impressionable children may start to believe that it is okay for them to do the same. Consequently, this results in a generation of kids who grow up to be less mindful of the food they waste or the plastic they consume.
What can you do to make your kids more “earth-friendly”?
A sustainable lifestyle is often mistaken for an expensive lifestyle. It is time we break this pre-conceived notion and strive towards achieving a “greener” or “ more sustainable” lifestyle by making small changes. Here are some simple and environmentally friendly habits that you can incorporate into your day-to-day life to make it greener.
Save Resources. Set an example for your children by taking shorter showers and remind them to do the same. Make them get into the habit of turning off the tap while brushing their teeth. Make it a family ritual to unplug all the appliances when you leave the house for an extended period to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint [4].
Recycle. Separating recyclables can be made a fun family activity by creating labels for plastic, cardboard, paper, and glass. Tell your kids the importance of disposing of garbage and recyclables the right way and the negative impacts it can have on the ecosystem if done incorrectly.
Reduce and Reuse. Bring your kids into a habit of carrying their reusable water bottles from home. Carry straws, forks, and spoons in your bag, this is a small but significant change you can make towards reducing your family’s plastic footprint. Lastly, explain the reasons for your actions, i.e. why your family avoids using plastic bottles or cutlery.
Here are some links to kid-friendly videos available online, explaining the negative effects of plastic on the environment:
Connect with nature. Spending time outdoors, whether it is going for a walk, swimming in a lake, or simply strolling through the garden, creates a sense of responsibility in kids towards nature at a young age. Connecting with nature does not only have to happen outdoors. If you have the space for a garden (indoor or outdoor), getting your child’s hands dirty (literally) is a fantastic way to nurture their appreciation for nature. If you have limited space, you can build a small kitchen garden with herbs that your family consumes frequently. Speaking to your children about where their food comes from will foster a sense of respect about the food they consume, and the natural resources that go into making them. Making a scrapbook about plants and animals local to you and adding on to this with every new travel adventure can be a fun family activity and is an exciting way for children to learn more about nature.
Trash to treasure. There are many items you can find in and around your house that you can easily upcycle. Haven’t we all, at some point, used up a bar of soap to a point where it is too tiny to use anymore. Instead of throwing this piece away, you can make this a fun weekend project by remaking a brand-new soap with these small odds and ends:
You can get creative by reusing plastic and cardboard boxes to make toy storages or jewelry boxes. Links to some fun DIY videos:
Make birthday parties a fun family affair by making your own piñata at home with paper mâché or old cardboard boxes that you have lying around:
Old newspapers:
Old newspapers:
Old Cardboard:
Another source of “trash” we all generate at home and often forget about is – organic waste. If you have an indoor or outdoor garden and some balcony space, turning your organic waste to compost is the way to go. Composting organic waste is the epitome of turning trash to treasure. Explain the benefits of composting to your kids and make it a fun activity you do together.
Here are some links that explain different ways in which you can compost at home (including apartments and small spaces):
https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/composting-for-apartments/
https://www.rentseeker.ca/blog/living-green-apartment-composting/
References and Additional Resources:
Kagan, J. (1999). The role of parents in children's psychological development. Pediatrics, 104 1 Pt 2, 164-7 .
Sutherland, L. A., Beavers, D. P., Kupper, L. L., Bernhardt, A. M., Heatherton, T., & Dalton, M. A. (2008). Like parent, like child: child food and beverage choices during role playing. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent med
https://www.treehugger.com/should-i-unplug-my-appliances-and-if-so-will-i-save-money-4864312
Sarayu Rao is a Toronto-based Environmental Scientist and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from McGill University. She is passionate about finding sustainable solutions for everyday problems and loves communicating complex information in a simplified manner!
