Teaching Your Kids about Global Warming
It all begins at home. The truth is, you’ll teach your kids about global warming, energy conservation, and protecting the environment whether you are proactive or not. You’ll teach them by example and they’ll teach their kids and so it goes. Most kids are very receptive to learning about ways in which they can help protect their environment and while it’s best to start teaching them as early as possible, it’s never too late.
Kids love to shop and enlisting their help at the store is a sure way to get them interested. Whether you’re shopping for food, household supplies, or large items like appliances, get the kids involved and tell them why the products you select are the right ones, as well as why the products you don’t select are not good for the environment. Be sure and take your own bags when you grocery shop and recycle any bags you may still have from the store.
Teaching your kids about the effects of global warming as well as the solutions we use to protect the environment can be about fun activities as well as the mandatory “turn the light” off lectures. Whether they are brushing their teeth or watering the lawn, teach them to conserve water at every opportunity. Think of the gallons of water just one child can save in his or her lifetime if taught at an early age.
Using rechargeable batteries and a battery charger for the entire household as well as children’s games and toys is another valuable lesson about energy conservation and a money saver as well. Using family time to bicycle or walk to a nearby park or library can be a fun and educational way for the whole family to get involved.
When it’s time to select a pet, adopt one from your local animal shelter and be sure to get it spayed or neutered. Millions of unwanted pets are born every day in the United States, consuming large amounts of energy resources that could be greatly reduced if more people would take advantage of this opportunity. It’s also another great teaching tool you can use to educate your children.
Older kids may need to be reminded to unplug and turn off televisions, stereos, and computers but once they get into the habit, it will be second nature. Require kids that do their own laundry to wash full loads in cold water and to turn off the drying cycle of the dishwasher when it’s their turn in the kitchen.
You can teach your kids to proactively protect their environment as you are doing the same. Kids like to know why, especially when doing something seems strange so it may help to go to some kid-friendly websites about global warming to help them understand why turning off the water or the light is so important. Challenge your kids to come up with even more ways the whole family can protect the environment. You may be surprised with what they already know!
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