How to Teach Your Kids to Save Energy and Go Green
Spring is officially here and with green holidays like Earth Day and Arbor Day on the books in April, it’s time to talk saving energy with your kids! And whether you have house rules in place (recycling, for instance) or make a game out of it, it’s never too early to start!
We asked energy-saving experts Homeselfe how to instill green habits in the little ones and here’s what they told us:
Teach them the concept. In order for kids to appreciate conserving energy, they need to understand where it comes from. Have a discussion with your child on the subject of energy, explaining where energy and electricity comes from. There are many kid-friendly websites that explain the concept or you can check out books at the library.
Explore the outdoors. Take your child on a nature walk or go to the beach. Let them get to know and understand the natural enjoyment of the outdoors. Camping is a great way to get the family together and have kids disengage with television and video games. If you’ve got pets, even better!
Set up “turn it off” time. Challenge your family to take a few hours a day, or even a whole week, to keep the electricity off. For young children, this can be an especially fun adventure. They have to use their imagination in a new way. You can plan the time around family activities, like a board game evening.
Plant a garden. Gardens naturally help the environment, even small container gardens. A garden can give your child more responsibility and teach them about plants and natural resources. You can grow food together, like herbs and vegetables.
Design energy-efficient kid spaces. When upgrading their bedroom or playroom, have your child take charge of the space. Allow them to be involved in the process and understand that the choices you make for the room will have a positive impact on the environment.
Conserve together. Create rules specifically for conserving energy. If you reduce your shower time, have your child do the same. Everyone should be expected to turn off the lights when they leave a room. The lifestyle changes you make should be the same ones your child follows.
Share projects. Implementing a DIY upgrade to your home? Get your kids involved and make it a family project. Spend time and bond with your child, while also giving them ownership of the project. Even allowing your child a small amount of time to be a part of the project can make them appreciate it more.
You can find more tips from Homeselfe here or read How to Spring Clean Your Mind and Be More Productive here.
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