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s parents, it’s up to us to pass on valuable life lessons to our children. One of these lessons is to teach them to be green so that they will continue taking care of the Earth as they grow up. Planting the seeds in their minds at a young age makes it much more likely they will continue to live an eco-friendly lifestyle into adulthood. Take these steps to help your family grow a greener future.
Use less plastic.
Teach them young. It’s never too early to start modeling a green lifestyle to your children. Children model what they see, so do your best to show them how to live in your everyday life. Teach them why it’s important to take care of our planet and show them that small actions add up to make a big difference. Many books can help you do this, including Thank You, Earth, Old Enough to Save the Planet and The Lorax.
Plant a tree together. Trees give us oxygen we need to breathe, store carbon, provide homes for wildlife and offer shade. Planting a family tree makes a fun memory for your children. I still have fond memories of planting a tree at my elementary school when I was in kindergarten. For information about buying the right tree for your space, learning how to plant a tree and taking care of a new tree, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website at MDC.MO.gov.
20 april 2023
kcparent.com
BUILD A
GREENER FUTURE
Go paperless. It may be easier said than done, but there are so many ways you can reduce your use of paper in your home. Here are a few examples: Save scrap paper and let your children draw on the back of old sheets. Request all your bills be emailed instead of mailed, and pay them online. Use online coupons and cancel unwanted newspaper subscriptions. Instead of purchasing paper towels, you can use cloth napkins and old rags for cleaning. This also saves you money in the long run, which is a win-win!
According to National Geographic, more than a million marine animals die as a result of the more than 8 million tons of plastic that’s moved into our oceans and environment every year. Do your best to help by following the lead of many restaurants and stopping your use of plastic straws. If you prefer using a straw, purchase silicone or stainless steel straws that you can wash and reuse. Also, instead of purchasing bottled water, use reusable water bottles. You can also use eco-friendly cleaning products that offer reusable pumps and bottles to cut the amount of plastic. Another way to trim plastic use is to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store with you.
Use alternate modes of transportation. Car pollution is very harmful to the environment. Cars and trucks emit 20% of all greenhouse gases in the United States. Teach your children the benefits of other modes of transportation. Walking or riding a bike to your destination is a great way to reduce pollution, and you’ll get in some exercise at the same time. The KC Streetcar runs through the heart of downtown and is a fun way to quickly travel to all your favorite downtown spots. While downtown, you can also try out the electric-assist bikes and classic pedal bikes thanks to the RideKC Bike program. The best part is you’ll be taking a small step in helping the environment while you ride.