It’s not simple to live sustainably; one needs to develop a few skills to make the best use of the environment’s resources and minimize the carbon footprint. The importance of teaching children about sustainability cannot be overstated. You should educate them about healthy habits that will help them not just survive but also thrive on the planet because they will be the citizens of the future. We encourage them to develop a connection with nature by educating them about environmentally friendly lifestyles.

Here are some reasons given for educating kids about sustainable living:

Developing a Critical Mindset

Teaching kids to live sustainably aid in developing their critical thinking skills. They are aware that to truly value things, one must look beyond their purely materialistic values.

For instance, they might discover that even though a lovely silk dress is torn, they don’t necessarily need to throw it away. They can instead use some of the silk to create a lovely pouch out of it.

As a result, they acquire the fundamental principle of recycling—the ability to recognize the fabric’s inherent value and reuse it for other purposes. Waste and overproduction, the main contributors to over-industrialization and carbon emissions, can be avoided by reusing and recycling materials.

Creating a Habit

When children are taught behavior from a young age, it develops into a habit as they get older. The same applies to educating them about eco-friendly living practices. After a while, they develop the habit of disposing of the peels of fruits and vegetables in the compost bin as opposed to the trash.

Of course, parents must also put their advice into practice, but it is the kids who end up adopting these habits. When they are old enough to drive, they will therefore learn to conserve fuel when they observe their parents turning off the ignition at a red traffic light.

Becoming Considerate Consumers

Although consumerism is at an all-time high, teaching children how to be frugal can make them more aware of waste and stop them from going on shopping binges once they are old enough to do so on their own. They can learn from a minimalist lifestyle how to live a happy life with just a few well-chosen, quality possessions.

Even though occasional indulgences are acceptable, they will develop a more expansive perspective once they realize how much they can reduce their environmental impact by making wiser decisions. Additionally, it helps them become more financially responsible. They can invest the money they have saved over the years in real estate purchases or even travel.

Children can learn important life skills and learn how to take care of themselves and their environment by being taught sustainability. Every parent and educator should take this action to prevent being completely deprived of the natural resources that are already so scarce. They will develop a more holistic lifestyle as they get older, taking from the planet but also giving back, as any good citizen should. The world is evolving, and with it, our perspective on it must also change. We can do more than just provide the next generation with the resources they need to address environmental change by focusing on environmental themes and sustainability education in schools.

Students are encouraged to reevaluate their relationship with the environment and develop eco-friendly skills and habits for their futures through environmental programs like agriculture labs and sustainable projects. Children will learn how to conserve resources, choose sustainable products, and grow their food, but early sustainability education education can also have a significant impact on children’s life paths.

~ Ms.  Supriya Jadhav, Principal, Orchids The International School, Tathawade Pune 

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