| It is hard to read the newspaper or listen to the | | | | investment in the results. |
| radio without hearing about the importance of | | | | 3. Group Planning: By involving your children in your |
| recycling, conserving energy, and employing measures | | | | plans to recycle, reuse, and “go green,” |
| to save fuel. From Presidential debates to the | | | | everything from planting a garden to turning off |
| nightly newscast, everyone is talking about the need | | | | electricity can become a family activity. With input |
| to “go green.” Although many parents | | | | from every member of the family, children get buy in |
| struggle with the proper way to teach children about | | | | for the method and ownership of the results. As an |
| the environment, experts agree that a good mixture | | | | extra step, assigning children to certain tasks as part |
| of creative and concrete methods for exposing | | | | of their chores or their responsibilities to the earth |
| children to environmental awareness is most | | | | might help to elevate participation in “going |
| effective. | | | | green.” |
| Consider these 5 Easy Ways to Help Children Go | | | | 4. Give a Cause: In the cases where conservation |
| Green: | | | | equals savings in money, let children pick out a charity |
| 1. Talk about Conservation: The first step to any | | | | of their choice to donate the money. From saving |
| good plan is a solid explanation of why conservation | | | | the whales or polar bears to giving the savings to the |
| helps people and the planet. Many parents skip this | | | | local humane society, donation gives children a real |
| step because they don’t think that kids will | | | | way to become involved in saving the planet or |
| understand. Some parents are concerned of the | | | | serving a living cause. |
| effects of their children not feeling secure about their | | | | 5. Creative Gifts: For holidays to birthdays and |
| environment; however, there are some very good | | | | every season in between, teach children fun and |
| children’s books and coloring books about helping | | | | creative ways to make their own gifts. Ideas for |
| the environment that will give simple, non-threatening | | | | useful gifts include making soaps, candles, stationary, |
| details. | | | | and picture frames. With recycled grocery bags |
| | | | | colored, painted, and decorated for the event, gifts |
| 2. Hide and Seek Saving: Your home, car, and | | | | can teach children to value personalized and practical |
| surroundings are full of places and ways to save the | | | | items instead of store bought presents. |
| environment. Once you have explained the reasons | | | | By taking the opportunity to give children an |
| for saving the environment and the methods, engage | | | | understanding of the importance of the environment |
| your children in an environmental game of | | | | and steps that they can take to help save energy, |
| hide-n-seek. From energy saving light bulbs to | | | | recycle, and create a green environment, parents get |
| recycling old newspapers, children get both a sense | | | | the chance to build consciousness and awareness of |
| of pride from finding ways to help and a sense of | | | | surroundings in children of all ages. |