{"id":1297,"date":"2021-02-24T13:55:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-24T18:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ditchplasticpackaging.com\/news\/3-valentines-day-crafts-to-make-from-recycled-egg-cartons-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-03-08T16:42:09","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T21:42:09","slug":"how-to-teach-kids-about-sustainable-and-plastic-free-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ditchplasticpackaging.org\/news\/how-to-teach-kids-about-sustainable-and-plastic-free-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Teach Kids About Sustainable and Plastic-Free Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is becoming more important than ever to help our planet and buy sustainable products – including reducing our single use-plastic and foam consumption. As parents, it is even more important to do research and educate the next generation. Our kids can develop positive habits and understand the importance of helping our planet by being conscious consumers, purchasing sustainable packaging, and creating less waste. There are many ways to help educate your little ones, and it starts at an early age. Here we will provide some tips on how to teach your child at an early age to develop these healthy habits.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Involve Kids in Chores<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Why not include them in household chores? This not only helps them to understand sustainability but also helps them to learn life skills. One thing you can include them in is taking out the recycling. As you teach them to separate paper, plastic, and aluminum, you can teach them what the different recycling symbols mean, how only some plastics are completely recyclable, and about your municipality’s waste management and recycling centres. While an older child is learning about what recycling is, you can also discuss why it is important to reduce single-use plastics and how only 9% of all plastics and styrofoam are actually recycled. 79% of all plastic and polystyrene foam sticks around in landfills and takes 1000 years to decompose.<\/p>\n

In addition to teaching them about what goes into the blue box, you can also include them when donating old clothes to charity – letting them know it is important not to throw clothes away as they too contain plastic fibres. You can also teach them about composting and putting food scraps into your municipality\u2019s green bins instead of the regular trash.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Include Kids in Grocery Shopping<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Even before you get to teaching about waste and recycling, influencing your child can start at the grocery store. Taking them to the grocery store can teach them about healthy food choices, local produce, and most importantly – shopping sustainably. When browsing the supermarket, talk about the different types of packaging food comes in and why,when we can, it\u2019s important to reduce our waste. Choose packaging that is 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable like moulded fibre egg cartons and boxed snacks. When picking out produce, teach them about reusable produce bags over single-use plastic bags. At the checkout, have your young ones help pack the groceries into reusable shopping bags. These are simple ways to make a change and by having them help, you can explain how single-use plastic bags are harmful to the environment. They often end up in the earth\u2019s waterways and oceans and can harm marine life.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Most Importantly, Make It Fun!<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Teaching children through play can be an easy and effective way to have their good habits stick.<\/p>\n

Here are some simple ways to do this:<\/strong><\/p>\n