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5 Recycling Tips for Kids
By Dinah Eng
If your kids don't know the basics of earth-friendly living, now is a perfect time to introduce them to the small concepts that can make a big difference.
"Whether it's talking about what goes into the trash or learning how to make compost, teaching kids the principles of recycling starts with the parent's own behavior," says Tessa Hills, president of Kids for Saving Earth.
"If you start by doing things a certain way, children will follow your lead," Tessa says. "Once they're used to (environmentally-friendly) practices, they won't know any other way to be."
Kids for Saving Earth was created in 1989 by Tessa and her husband William, after their 11-year-old son Clint died from cancer. They thought Clint, who started a club for Earth-saving actions in his elementary school, would approve of their non-profit organization.
Tessa is here with us today with five fun ways to teach your kids about recycling:
1. Swap everything.
We all like to hang onto things that we love, but if we want new things, we usually have to let go of the old. So go through your stuff and pick out what you don't need anymore. Just make sure it's still in good, usable shape. Then have a swap party with your friends and swap everything. You'll get something new and be able to share something you once loved with a friend.
2. Reuse a napkin week.
Instead of using paper napkins, pick out a different colored washcloth for every member of your family. For one week, keep the washcloths in a drawer in the kitchen, and take them out for use at each meal. Wash when needed. Who knows? After a week, you may get your family to stop buying disposable paper products altogether.
3. Create less trash.
Ask your mom or dad to buy reusable sandwich boxes that can be washed — instead of disposable plastic bags — in which to pack your lunch. Tell them to skip the bottled water and buy stainless steel drinking bottles that can be reused.
4. Throw a green birthday party.
Plan your birthday party (or any party) with eco-actions. E-mail your invitations, serve organic food and use washable plates instead of disposable ones. Suggest your friends bike, walk or carpool with their parents to the party and that gifts be wrapped with recycled paper or reusable bags.
5. Conserve resources.
Keep extra cups in your car, so that when your parents drive through your favorite fast food place, you can order just one large drink and split it up in the extra cups. It'll save money that just might end up in your allowance the following week.
For more kid-friendly recycling tips, check out Kids For Saving Earth.
Do your kids lead eco-conscious lives already?
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Comments (1)
Part of my son's weekly chore list is taking out and sorting the recycling (we have bins in our garage). He is great about making sure things get put in recycling that need to be, in fact, MANY times I may slip and put something recyclable in the trash and he will grab it and say "MOM! That goes in the recycling!" He takes a stainless steel water bottle to school, and is great about putting recyclables in the proper bins even at school. We definitely make sure to keep our waste to a minimum in our home, and we are raising our son to realize that it is our duty to be responsible and earth conscious.