Children are always out exploring the world, whether building castles on sandboxes or simply collecting rocks. But how much do they know about taking care of the world that gets stuck in between their nails after playing in the dirt?

World Earth Day is a yearly reminder that we all have a common responsiblity when it comes to the well-being of the planet. Just as mother earth takes care of her children, you also love to see your little ones thrive, and today is the best time to teach the kids about this lovely home called earth.

Below are six ways you can teach your child to be more green.

Teach Your Child to Use Water Wisely

Conservation, much like charity, begins at home. You can educate your child about the value of saving water by doing little things such as teaching them to close the tap while brushing their teeth and also taking brief showers.

Encourage Your Child To Donate Old Toys Instead of Throwing Them Away

Writing for the Journal of Student Research at Indiana University East, Madison McGrew said: “After toys are no longer being used, they frequently end up in landfills or oceans, or they are incinerated.”

As your little one gets older, they will eventually outgrow their favourite WWE action figures and Monster High dolls. One sure way of educating your child about reducing their carbon footprint is by encouraging them to donate the toys to the less fortunate instead of chucking them out.

When Shopping With Your Child, Teach Them About the Reusable Bags

When out and about with your young one for a day at the shops, the activity is perfect for teaching them about the importance of using reusable bags. Shopping with reusable bags can also be a teachable moment to educate your child about resource conservation and going green by using biodegradable items.

Keeping A Houseplant or A Garden Can Help Your Child Care For Nature

According to the UNICEF article “Green Parenting Tips”, taking care of plants or keeping a garden can mean adopting “every routine activities like watering, cleaning, removing unnecessary leaves, [and] learning the needs of each plant.”

Such activities will not only help your child be aware of nature, but they will also learn about the value of taking care of plants, especially those that produce fruit and vegetables. Plus, taking care of plants can be a great way of strengthening the child-parent bond.

Meal Planning With Your Child Can Help Minimise Food Wastage

Making plans with your child on how much and what kind of food will be eaten weekly will help your child not only be responsible but also respectful enough to not let food go to waste.

An article on Environment SA called “Teach Your Kids the Green Lifestyle” states: “Plan healthy diet by using some of the vegetables, spices, or herbs from your home garden.” By understanding where food comes from and treating each plan with care, your child will learn to be appreciative of food and drinks as well as the earth itself, where it all comes from.

Explore the Outdoors By Taking Hikes And Visiting Nature Reserves

Get out more and touch grass with your child! Let the wind hit your faces as you bike your way down dirt paths and enjoy the smell of soil from the hiking trails. Camping and having picnics is also a great way to connect with each other as well as the outdoors. Tuning in with nature will help them with stress and to be ecologically responsible kids.