Green Family Living: How To Get The Kids Involved!

We all want to work together to save the environment but how do we get the kids involved? Being green is a family affair and works better when everyone contributes.  But it can be overwhelming when you don't know where to start! We know all about green family living, so we'd like to give you a few ideas on how to get the kids involved! 

Reduce, reuse, recycle:  Teach your children to limit waste by getting them reusable lunch boxes and snack storage containers, how to reuse plastic bags, and show them how to separate recyclable items.  Also, bring a reusable shopping bag when you take them shopping with you and ignite their creativity by asking them for ideas about how to reuse old items. Teach kids to turn off lights when they leave the room and to turn the water off while they are brushing their teeth.

Plant a garden: It doesn’t have to be a major yard remodel; you can start small by planting veggies seeds, flowers, or herbs in pots- any of which kids will beam with pride as they watch them grow.  Let kids dig in the dirt and experience all the fun things the nature has to offer. 

Get outside: Take kids for a walk in nature and talk about everything you see, and how important it is that we take care of the environment.   Let them explore the beauty of nature with a hike by a stream, creek, or flowering trees. 

Go to the farmer’s market: This is a double bonus as you may also get kids to eat more veggies by letting them pick out what foods they’d like to try.  You can explain along the way that the vendors are local farmers, the food available is grown close to their house, and every produce item there has a particular season for growing and cultivating.  

Volunteer together: Is there a local beach or park clean up available? A  neighborhood recycling drive? It’s a fun family activity to do together while teaching children the importance of giving back. You can also check out opportunities to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity; a non-profit that helps build homes for families.
Read books together about the environment:  There are several children’s books out that talk about the environment, and are great to read together.  Some books to choose from could be:

The Trouble With Dragons by Debi Gliori
Hey! What’s That Nasty Whiff? By Julie Jarman and Garry Parsons
The Wombles to The Rescue by Elizabeth Beresford
The Lorac by Dr. Seuss

Get rid of clutter: If you’re still overwhelmed with a mess of a holiday or birthday presents, decide on a day to get rid of old toys, clothes, and other clutter lying around the house.  Take the items to a donation center together or have a garage sale.  Explain to your children the importance of only buying things you actually need.
You Be the Example: The “do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t really fly if you want your kids to pick up healthy behaviors.  They are watching you, so lead by example adhering to green habits yourself!  It will be fun when you all do it together!

Being green together is the best way to make for a better future! We are dedicated to creating a cleaner future for the world, which is why we at Bayes, created our line of organic cleaning supplies!  Please stop by and let us be apart of your green world!