Teaching Children To Be 'Green'

[A Party of Five]

Do you have any special ways you teach your children to respect the environment?

I guess with us a lot of it is just incorporated into general life, eg it's second nature for them to put food scraps into the compost.

Anyone have any other ideas to teach our children about being green?

Angela

[sandy cheeks]

As I cannont afford to run a car at the moment I walk everywhere so I often carry a plastic bag to fill up with litter (I also have hand sanatiser) so my son can see me picking up rubbish he knows that dirty people leave rubbish and when he sees some1 littering he tells me in a loud voice that person is dirty for droping rubbish (and it kills animals)which can leave people rather red faced I used to get embarressed but now I'm proud the planet is his future.
I also recycle have a compost bin and teach him about being water wise every little bit helps.

[A Party of Five]

WOW that's a great idea I would love to see the look on their faces

[Funkychicken]

I believe, as with anything we do, our children follow our example. They "see" us composting our scraps, so assume this is normal practice. They see us using cloth bags and also follow suit.
Our 9yo DS has asked that we have no plastic bags in the house at all-including if anyone brings something over in one. He tells them we don't use them in our house.
He is very compassionate when it comes to nature and gets quite concerned about plastic bags ending up in the oceans where turtles may swallow them.
We talk often about environmental issues but I keep it in a positive light as much as possible. Our small children don't need to hear the doom and gloom, I prefer to talk with them about the things that are being done to help our environment, rather than the things being done to it.
They know we only have fair trade coffee and tea and know that we boycott certain companies due to their unethical marketing strategies.

The school our children attend have many green policies that our actually just considered par for the course-they don't have them written up as such, just expect families to follow them. No packaged food in lunchboxes, any scraps are either brought home or composted at school, they have a vegetable garden as well as some decorative beds.
The new buildings are being constructed from bricks that are a wood/cement blend that are ecologically sound.

At our annual market day (held last week) we use the wash against waste system and we can become accredited through this as a waste wise organization.

OK, I think I have rabbited on more than enough.

[A Party of Five]

The school our children attend have many green policies that our actually just considered par for the course-they don't have them written up as such, just expect families to follow them. No packaged food in lunch boxes, any scraps are either brought home or composted at school, they have a vegetable garden as well as some decorative beds.

The new buildings are being constructed from bricks that are a wood/cement blend that are ecologically sound.

Oh I wish our school would get the kidlets more involved in these type of activities Our school has the room for a garden and they do talk about but nothing seem to do done about it

[canberramomma]

I believe, as with anything we do, our children follow our example. They "see" us composting our scraps, so assume this is normal practice. They see us using cloth bags and also follow suit.
Our 9yo DS has asked that we have no plastic bags in the house at all-including if anyone brings something over in one. He tells them we don't use them in our house.
He is very compassionate when it comes to nature and gets quite concerned about plastic bags ending up in the oceans where turtles may swallow them.
We talk often about environmental issues but I keep it in a positive light as much as possible. Our small children don't need to hear the doom and gloom, I prefer to talk with them about the things that are being done to help our environment, rather than the things being done to it.
They know we only have fair trade coffee and tea and know that we boycott certain companies due to their unethical marketing strategies.

The school our children attend have many green policies that our actually just considered par for the course-they don't have them written up as such, just expect families to follow them. No packaged food in lunchboxes, any scraps are either brought home or composted at school, they have a vegetable garden as well as some decorative beds.
The new buildings are being constructed from bricks that are a wood/cement blend that are ecologically sound.

At our annual market day (held last week) we use the wash against waste system and we can become accredited through this as a waste wise organization.

Also, ACT schools run a Sustainable School program that teaches children about making their school greener. They have incorporated segregated waste containers (paper, compost, glass, cans) into the lunchtime and recess activities. They also do exercises in measuring the schools electricity and water usage. Being a volunteer (if you have the time, obviously not everyone does) is a great way to reinforce the 'green' ideals in your child/ren.

[A Party of Five]

Also, ACT schools run a Sustainable School program that teaches children about making their school greener. They have incorporated segregated waste containers (paper, compost, glass, cans) into the lunchtime and recess activities. They also do exercises in measuring the schools electricity and water usage. Being a volunteer (if you have the time, obviously not everyone does) is a great way to reinforce the 'green' ideals in your child/ren.

Do you know if they have something like this for Tassie school?

How would I go about find this information?

[Funkychicken]

Also, ACT schools run a Sustainable School program that teaches children about making their school greener. They have incorporated segregated waste containers (paper, compost, glass, cans) into the lunchtime and recess activities. They also do exercises in measuring the schools electricity and water usage. Being a volunteer (if you have the time, obviously not everyone does) is a great way to reinforce the 'green' ideals in your child/ren.

I have had a good look at that website in the past and it is fantastic. I'm very impressed that more than 60% of Victorian schools are partaking in the program.

[forbetoel]

For us it is as simple as living it. Kids learn more from our behaviour than anything else. No good teaching kids about recycling, water saving, energy efficiency,etc,etc, if you are not going to do it yourself. My kids just think that all that is normal.

[canberramomma]

Do you know if they have something like this for Tassie school?

How would I go about find this information?

I would approach the school or the Department of Education to ask about similar schemes in your area.