How to Teach Your Child to Be Environmentally Conscious

Environmentally conscious is so much more today than just recycling a few cans or plastic containers. Today as society we are more aware of the damages that we are causing to our planet. Here are some great ways that you can teach your child to be environmentally conscious without them even realizing it.

1. Teach them young. One of the very first things to remember is to begin making your children environmentally conscious by teaching them at a young age. Young children adapt and remember more efficiently at a young age. Start young so they will automatically be conscious of their surroundings.

2. Be an active participant. As parents we sometimes forget the old saying, "What's good for the goose in good for the gander." If you are teaching your child to be environmentally conscious, then you as parents should be as well.

3. Teach them to recycle. Recycling can be taught at a very young age. If you start showing them how to recycle plastics, paper and metal from the get go. More than likely as they get older it will be like second nature to them.

4. Unplug when not in use. Unplugging items when not in use is an excellent way to teach your child to be environmentally conscious. Educate your child on how much energy can be saved by unplugging their video games, computers, cell phone cords, radios, and even television sets when not in use. Not only will you teach them to save on energy, you will also teach them that it saves money by doing so.

5. Turn the faucet off. A lot of water is wasted when a child is brushing their teeth or washing their hands. Teach them to turn the water off while brushing their teeth or washing their hands. Only turn the water on when needed. This will conserve a lot of water if you think about it.

6. Start a garden. Growing your own vegetables and fruit is not only environmentally conscious, it is also healthier. By growing a garden, you will educate your child on how important the Earth really is.

7. Get them involved. If your child is a little older, get them involved in a "go green" teen group. One of the top groups that they can join is Teens For Planet Earth. Not only do they educate your child on all the different resources there are for keeping our planet healthy, they have fun doing it.

8. Take shorter showers or baths. Teach your children to get in and out of the shower or bath as quick as possible. The more water that goes down the drain, the more water wasted. Wash, rinse, and dry. Simple, easy rule to live by.

9. Walk or ride a bike. If your children are at that age where they want to go to their friends house or to the mall. Teach them to walk or ride their bicycle, if in reasonable range. The less time a car is running, the less energy and toxic fumes are set into the atmosphere.

10. Turn the lights OFF! Whenever possible, teach your children to turn the lights off. If it is daylight, have them open up the windows for natural light to shine through. The more the lights are turn off, the more energy is saved.

These are not things that you should be doing, these are things that you need to be doing with your family. Teaching your children to be environmentally conscious these days are like teaching them to respect themselves or parents. If you teach your children to be environmentally conscious, you are teaching them how to be aware of their surroundings and its importance. Without the Earth, there will be no one. Teach them that, and keep teaching them that until they understand.