Teaching Kids about Recycling
Getting Them Involved in Helping Out to Save the Environment
Recycling is an important job that a lot of people have to do together to make it work. Start teaching your child about recycling with these ideas.
Recycling is the right thing to do and if you have never started a recycling program in your home, now is the time to do it. It is important for your child, no matter his or her age, to learn all about recycling and how it can help protect the environment. Of course, you can take your child to your local recycling center to show him first hand how recycling takes place. You can also visit your local library where you can both read up on how to help protect the environment through recycling. Every little bit helps and you are teaching your child the right thing when you set an example at home.
Set Up a Recycling Center
One of the best things you can do when you want to teach your child about recycling in the home is to set up a recycling center. You do not even have to have a lot of room to do this. All you really need is a couple of bins that will help you sort out the various products. Allow your child to decorate and label each bin and he or she can be the recycling captain in your home. One bin should be for paper goods, such as newspapers and magazines, another one should be for cans and aluminum foil and a third bin should be used for glass products. Show your child how to rinse out the items before placing them in the bin, too.
Start a Community Event
Remember that recycling can extend far beyond your own home. You can help your child start a recycling event in your community or at school. Advertise in your neighborhood and have a collection date. You can even get everyone together to collect cans and recycle them for cash. You may not raise a lot of money, but you could put the money that you get to good use. Start a neighborhood garden or buy more recycling bins for your school. Your child will get a sense of satisfaction knowing that she or he has helped.
Don’t Forget About Clothes
Trash is not the only thing that you can recycle. In fact, teach your child about recycling clothes and toys, too. Toys that are longer play with can be given to a shelter or your local Goodwill store. This is a form of recycling, too. The same goes for clothes. Hand me downs can be fashionable and environmentally “cool”. You can also find out how to make new items out of outgrown clothes. How about making a tote bag out of an old pair of jeans, or stuffing a shirt into a pillow?
These are just a few suggestions about how you can help your child learn more about recycling. Have fun and work on it together as a family.
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