Today is Earth Day and even the littlest ones in the home can learn to take of the Earth. Norrin is learning about planets and he knows we live on Earth. We talk to him about plants and the environment. While there are many concepts that are difficult for Norrin to understand, we still want to teach him about caring the environment. The Earth is our home and the only planet we have – we want Norrin to understand it’s important to treat our home nicely.
Here are 3 little ways we are teaching Norrin to take of the Earth
Don’t Litter. We live in The Bronx, a borough of New York City. And we usually take public transportation to get around. But whether we’re walking, in the train or in the car – we never litter. If we have garbage, we ask Norrin to look for a garbage can – we make into a little game. Nothing bothers me more than seeing small kids litter. As parents, we need to set the example. Being young is no excuse for tossing your garbage in the street or under your seat on the train. If you don’t want your child to throw their garbage on the floor in your home – the same expectations should apply when you are out.
Conserve Water. We have been teaching Norrin to be more independent. One of the ways we’re doing so is by allowing him to bathe by himself and brush his teeth on his own. Both are great ways to teach kids about conserving water. While Norrin is brushing his teeth, we prompt him to shut off the water rather then letting the faucet run freely. As for showering, we are starting to set a timer to see how fast Norrin can shower. Conserving water can be fun.
Recycle. We try to recycle whenever possible. And when home, we make recycling into a game. By setting up recycle bins with pictures on the front, we ask Norrin to find the “match.” Sometimes I get confused with what can and can’t be recycled – especially when it comes to products, luckily there are resources that can help.
Caring for the planet doesn’t require much, all we need to do is make a little effort to make it part of our daily routine.
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This Earth Day, even the littlest green thumbs can join in on the celebration! From exploring the outdoors to starting a garden, there are so many ways parents can show kids how to appreciate and care for our planet. But it all starts with you. To help make Earth Day a family affair, parenting platform Babble.com is hosting a Twitter chat with celebrated scientist and mom, Stephanie Wear, on April 22 at 2pm EST / 11am PST .
Stephanie is a lead scientist for coral reef conservation at The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest environmental organization. She also happened to be named one of Babble’s “Moms Who are Changing the World” in 2011. When she isn’t saving the world, this supermom of two enjoys exploring coastal North Carolina with her family. And her family is the reason why she loves what she does.
“I don’t work to protect the environment for the environment’s sake,” Stephanie told Babble in 2011. “I work to protect it for the billions of people that require clean air, clean water, and a healthy ocean to survive. It sounds cliché, but I do it for my children and their children, too.”
This is why Earth Day is so important and worth celebrating: it’s not just for us — it’s for the future generations of the world.
So join Babble’s Twitter chat with Wear this Earth Day, April 22, at 2pm EST / 11am PST to be part of the conversation! Just follow @BabbleEditors to send your questions and thoughts on all things nature using the hashtag #BabbleEarthChat.
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