Teach Your Kids the Three R’s

Every kid knows the three R’s: reading, writing, and arithmetic, but do they know the three R’s of green living?

Today’s parents have become more eco-conscious and want their kids to be also. One of the most important ways you can teach your child to be aware of what’s happening to the planet is to teach him or her the three R’s.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the most important R’s your kid will ever learn. The best age to start teaching your child is around two. He or she probably won’t fully understand the fundamentals, but if you make it a game, they’ll catch on quickly.

REDUCE

• Have a plan to reduce what your family uses and wastes.
• Utilize new product packaging. Just because a product is packaged in a smaller container doesn’t mean you can’t get the same results.
• Look for green packaging.

REUSE

• Instead of paper or plastic use a reusable grocery bag. It’s not only economical, but it can be used many times; without harming the planet and or take up unwanted space in a landfill.
• Use plastic jugs for bird feeders, plant containers or scoops.
• Start a compost from leftovers such as coffer grounds, root veggies, or egg shells.
• Create plastic bottle bowling pins. Thoroughly rinse plastic soda bottles, remove labels, add water or sand. For the bowling ball, be creative. Use anything you think will make a great ball.

RECYCLE

• Create a recycling station. Make it a family fun day.
• Use colored bins for different recyclables.
• Brown and green bins are great learning tools. It teaches that the Earth should be green and if you don’t recycle it could turn brown.
• A great lesson to teach recycling is to have your child fill the brown bin to the top and point out this is what the Earth looks like if he or she doesn’t recycle.
• At the end of seven days separate everything into different green containers showing what the Earth should look like.

The important lessons you teach your kids now will not only make them green-wise, but protect the Earth in the future.