“This year the monsoons were very bad. Each year some of the other catastrophe. We need to do something…” said Mrs Sen while bargaining with the vegetable vendor for an extra plastic bag.

“Hmm, so true. Even the summers were harsh. My mini got sun rashes very badly!” exclaimed Mrs Murti while keeping the engine of her scooty on waiting for Mrs Sen to finish her shopping. 

Moral of the story – We don’t practice what we preach, especially about climate change. Effects of global warming, causes of climate change, effects of climate change, etc. surely are some of the hot topics of discussion these days. Chai breaks, lunch breaks, family get-togethers, everywhere you’ll find people discussing passionately about climate change. (Mostly climate and weather are the saviours for awkward silences in any tense discussions!) And on the other hand, in real life, this topic finds no place. Nada. 

But we have to act now!  Global warming, increased temperature, burning forests, floods, and droughts. Phew. What more signs do we need to wake up? 

The solution is simple. You might have heard this saying – Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Similarly, our little efforts on the grassroots level can help save the planet from falling prey to our own deeds. 

Each and every member of the family can contribute their little part. Most importantly, if we want our future generations to breathe fresh air devoid of carbon monoxide hovering around, we need to bring about climate change awareness in children. And this surely doesn’t cost a zillion bucks, just a little bit of attention and awareness. We have to instil in them the feeling that they have the power to help Mother Earth.

So, peeps, here are our 7 magic tips for how to make your kids aware of climate change. Using these tips, you can plan out activities to teach your child about climate change and help them take simple measures in their day-to-day life. And of course, lecturing won’t help AT ALL!  

Let’s get realistic:

1. Let the kid connect with nature.

Try a different plan this weekend. Instead of grabbing the best seats in IMAX with your family, head out for a small hike. Plan your day such that your kids play in the open, lay on the grass, walk up the hills, watch the sunrise and let them lose themselves in the magic of nature. Malls can wait, surely!

2. Encourage your children to grow a plant on their own at home.  

As a part of the fun activity at home, let your child help you with gardening. Encourage him or her to grow a small plant in the house. Let the kid take care of the plant on their own, while you just supervise. This way, kids will automatically develop a connection with the plant and understand the importance of nature on their own in a better and most practical way. 

3. Carry your own bags – Say no to plastic!

Children are great imitators. So, you must practice eco-friendly habits yourself first to help the child follow your footsteps. Stop using plastic bags and carry cloth or paper bags when you go out for shopping. This way the child will also refrain from using plastic bags. Then, if you forget someday, your kid will remind you of getting a cloth bag before stepping out for shopping. 

4. Inspire them to – Reuse, reduce and recycle!

Explain the kids the difference between reuse, reduce and recycle along with the importance of these three things combined. Start with small things in the beginning. For example, 

Reuse: Encourage your kids to make use of discarded containers, toys, etc. to create something new. 

Recycle: Help them recycle their clothes, toys and stationery by donating them to the needy. You can also enrol your kids in nature or environment clubs or camps where they’ll be trained properly to recycle in their daily lives. 

Reduce: Teach them to avoid the usage of use and throw plastic items and reduce any wastage of paper. Children interested in origami should be encouraged to use newspapers than craft papers. Parents can also teach children how to make paper bags out of newspapers in their free time. 

Make these activities fun than compulsory and in no time your household will be an epitome of being eco-friendly.  

5. Involve them in discussions about saving electricity, water & wastage at home.

Kids are very imaginative. Involve your kids in discussions about saving electricity, water, and other waste in the house. Let them give their ideas. If they feel their opinions are valued, they’ll actively take part in preventing wastage of any resources at home. Communication is the key to make them understand why it is necessary to save energy. 

6. Segregate dry and wet waste at home. 

Explain your kids the importance of segregating wet waste and dry waste. You can put two separate dustbins in their room for them to start practising this habit on their own. Encourage them to recycle dry waste and use wet waste as an excellent compost for plants. 

7. Try to use public transport often while travelling with kids.  

Public transports are tricky, I understand. But the golden middle here too is to try to use public transport whenever possible especially when you are travelling with your kid. This is will help them understand the causes and effects of air pollution and using public transport as one of the ways to curb it. 

These 7 habits can certainly help you and your kid contribute a lot in keeping the sinking ship of our planet afloat the climate chart. These habits will not take much of your time from the daily routine but will certainly create a difference in your child’s life as well as yours. 

Earth is our home and we need to save our house from getting contaminated from our waste and ignorance. It is ‘highest of the high time’ to take actions by you, me and everyone out there. Because nature has had enough!

Also Read: Why is Nutrition Important? The Burger asked Pizza.

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