Teach kids to place their cans and bottles in the recycling bin, not in the trashcan. © iStockphoto.com-
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By Diane Griffith, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth
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You've taken steps to make some changes and live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. But can you get your kids to join you? Chances are that once they understand the importance of going green, they'll be eager to pitch in.
Teach them the 4 R's:
- Reduce the amount of trash discarded and energy wasted.
- Reuse containers and products.
- Recycle and use recycled materials.
- Respond by changing habits and producing less waste.
Reduce
Ask your kids to reduce waste and conserve energy by:
- Turning off the faucet when they brush their teeth.
- Turning off the lights and TV when they leave a room.
- Using both sides of the paper when coloring or writing.
- Taking short showers instead of baths. A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water every day.
- Choosing products without excess packaging when shopping.
- Unplugging cell phone and computer chargers when not in use. One fourth of the electricity used to charge these devices is used while the products are turned off.
- Turning off computers at night and using low-power sleep modes during the day when the computer is not in use.
Reuse
Reusing materials instead of throwing them out keeps them out of the solid waste stream longer. Challenge your kids to find ways to extend the lives of household products. Start them off with these suggestions:
- Borrow books from the library instead of buying them.
- After reading a magazine, share it with a friend instead of throwing it away.
- Before discarding something, decide if there is a good way to reuse it.
- Save wrapping paper, egg cartons, tissue paper and colorful packaging to use for arts and crafts projects.
- Use dishes and glasses instead of paper products. Using the same glass all day will reduce waste and cut down on the frequency of dishwasher use.
- If an item is needed for one-time use, borrow or rent it instead of buying it.
- Plan a garage sale to sell unused clothes, appliances and other household items that are still in good shape - or donate them to a local charity.
- Use rechargeable batteries in toys and electronic devices.
Recycle
Explain the value of recycling to your kids:
- Recycling cans, newspapers and glass bottles saves energy and landfill space. It also conserves natural resources and prevents pollution.
- Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, two barrels of oil and enough electricity to power a home for five months.
Share these recycling tips:
- When older kids shop for printer paper, note pads, wrapping paper, stationery and numerous other items (even sleeping bags), tell them to look for the words "postconsumer" or "recycled" on the package. Some products are even packaged with recycled materials.
- Teach kids to place their cans and bottles in the recycling bin, not in the trashcan.
- Give younger children these ideas to extend the lives of recyclables:
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- Turn a big box into a playhouse.
- Make a flowerpot out of a plastic container.
- Treat pet hamsters to a new toy by placing cardboard paper towel and toilet paper rolls in their cage.
- Turn a used tire into a backyard swing.
Respond
If your kids use their imaginations, they can find more ways to make a difference. Here are a few ideas:
- Share information about the 4 R's with their friends.
- Write to companies that use unnecessary packaging and ask them to reduce the waste.
- Plan a clothing drive to help others.
- Collect plastic grocery bags and drop them in special recycling boxes at the supermarket.
What else can your kids do to help the planet? With a little creativity, the sky's the limit.
View the original Teaching kids to go green article on myOptumHealth.com
SOURCES: - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmental kids club.
- Worldwatch Institute. 10 ways to go green and save green.
- OurEarth.org. 10 easy ways to be green.
