Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids to Recycle

If we are to have a responsible society that recycles in the future, we have to teach our kids to recycle. Teaching kids to recycle involves helping them to understand how recycling helps the earth and why recycling is important. Making recycling fun and rewarding for kids will also help them grow into responsible adults who protect the planet.

Recycling Games

Playing recycling games can help you child to develop a positive association with recycling. You could have a recyclables sorting contest. Make a pile of unsorted recyclables for each child. Make sure that the piles contain the same amount of recyclables. Then get separate recycling bins for aluminum, paper, cardboard, metal and plastic, one for each child. Then have the kids compete to see who can sort their recyclables with the greatest speed and accuracy. When the game is over, check the recycling bins. Give a prize to the child who sorted the recyclables the fastest and made the fewest mistakes.

Making Crafts with Recycled Materials

Have the kids gather some recyclables, such as paper, magazines and newspapers, glass and plastic bottles, plastic bags, paper bags, cardboard, wood scraps, metal cans and old clothing. Help the kids to sort these recyclables into categories. Also find some craft glue, craft paints, scissors and other necessary craft materials. Use old paper or plastic cups and egg cartons for paints and water for brushes. Use cardboard to make holiday ornaments. Use recycled glass bottles and jars to make vases. Use recycled paper to make paper airplanes, greeting cards, origami and paper dolls. Use magazines and newspaper inserts to make collages. Use the newsprint in newspapers to make paper mache projects.

Teaching Kids the Facts about the Environment

You can encourage kids to recycle for the rest of their lives by teaching them the facts about recycling. Kids need to understand how manufacturing items from new materials produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which enter the atmosphere and increase the effects of global warming. According to the EPA, recycling reduces the overall greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. Kids also need to know how long it takes for recyclables to decompose in landfills. You can find references to these and other recycling facts online on sites such as the EPA website, KidsRecycle.org and the Kids' Recycling Zone. These sites also have fun online activities that will help you to teach your kids why it's important to recycle.

If you regularly get your kids engaged in fun recycling games, crafts and activities, they will become enthusiastic about recycling. For more information on this topic, read Earth Day Activities for Kids and Recycling Made Easy: Organize Your Recyclables, Save Money and Have Some Fun.

Sources:

EPA.gov: "Trash and Climate Change"