Family Tips: Teaching Children About Sustainability
Something that is an important part of the curriculum at Paisley Park and woven into our daily routines with the children is sustainability. In this article we’ll share some ideas for extending this learning into your home routines. Teaching children sustainability at home can be simple and fun!
Plant a Garden
Planting a garden and growing some of your own fruits and vegetables is a great way for children to learn more about where their food comes from. You might even save a few dollars on the grocery bill!
What if you live in an apartment or don’t have space for a veggie patch in your garden? Grow plants in pots to keep inside or on your balcony.
Start a Compost or Worm Farm
If you have space in your garden, you can start a compost. Your family’s food waste can then be used to produce nutrient rich fertiliser for your garden.
If you don’t have the space for a compost, you can start a worm farm. These can be purchased as kits or you can build your own using old plastic crates or boxes. There are a lots of great resources online to learn how and many local councils offer learning materials and support to help you get started.
Make Conserving Energy a Game
You can teach your children about the impact of day-to-day choices in the way your family uses power, gas and water.
For older children, create a fun game and some friendly family competition around activities such as:
- Who can take the shortest shower
- Who can always remember to turn out the light when they leave a room
- Who can sort the recycling the fastest
Taking it Into the Community
Look for ways your family can learn more about sustainability locally. Get involved in local community activities, events and initiatives.
To further extend on these ideas, a great place to start can often be your local council. Many councils have programs and materials to help residents get involved in sustainability.
Another idea is to look for farmer’s markets in your local area. Your family can meet and speak with people directly involved in food or crop production. This is a great social way to learn more about where your food is coming from.
Get involved in your local community garden. These communal spaces are becoming more and more common. Connect with a group in your local area. This is a fun way for the family to meet new people and get involved with helping.
We hope these tips will help you with teaching your children about sustainability!