Helping Your Child Become More Environmentally Conscious

The over-consumption of fossil fuels has led to mass destruction of the natural environment and we’re yet to see more of its devastating effects. The year 2021 is said to be the year that could make or break the future of the planet and there is no better time than any to teach your child about global warming. We have teamed up with an independent school in Abingdon to share a few ways that you can help your child to be more environmentally conscious.

Energy Awareness

There are small things that we all can do every day which when combined can have a huge impact on the planet by helping to conserve fossil fuels. One of the simplest ways that this can be done is by cutting down on unnecessary usage by turning electricals off at the mains when not in use. According to a study carried out by the Energy Saving Trust, 9 to 16% of the average household’s electricity consumption comes from appliances on standby. This can be minimised by encouraging your child to switch the lights and TV off after use.

Encourage Off-Screen Time

Reduced screen time can be beneficial for us all and can help you to get your child active and outdoors. As well as the benefits that this will have to their physical health, it will also teach them that they don’t need to be wasteful or need electronics to have fun. This can help them to develop healthy habits from a young age and lower their carbon footprint.

Gardening and Growing Fresh Produce

A third of children in the UK don’t know where their food comes from, gardening together can teach them more about fruit and vegetables and encourage them to eat healthier. You can teach your child all about the distance that their food has to travel and show them that it’s more than possible for them to reduce their consumption by growing their own.

Recycle and Upcycle

Another way that you can help your child to be more environmentally conscious is by teaching them about the importance of reducing material waste. Year on year, more than 300,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown away and 15 billion trees are cut down. Recycling can hugely help the environment as the processes needed to recycle cardboard requires 75% less energy than that needed to create cardboard that is fresh.

This is a collaborative post.