Teaching children to go green

When you were a kid, did the word "green" conjure up images of Kermit the Frog singing about the difficulties of fitting in? Or did it bring to mind Dr. Seuss's timeless classic about the questionably coloured eggs and ham.

Chances are your child will surprise you with knowledge of-and passion for-the "Green Movement". As with any other major media message, kids are being inundated with information on the need to protect the environment.

"It's important for parents to help kids sift through the information to find real ways to make a difference, even at a tender age," says Karen Farmer, a children's book author and environmentalist. "Kids can really feel empowered by participating in the green movement, and they'll be establishing environmentally conscious habits that will sustain them their whole lives."

After Earth Day 2008 on April 22, many parents are wondering how they can nurture the budding environmentalist in their children. Here are some practical tips:

Bag it. From Beijing to Annapolis, Md., communities around the world are banning the use of plastic shopping bags, which take approximately 1,000 years to decompose. Each year, 500 billion plastic bags are used around the world, and the cost of "free" bags from retailers can top $4 billion annually.

Teaching youngsters to choose reusable cloth bags for shopping not only makes environmental sense, it could be preparing them for a world in which plastic shopping bags are no more. Choosing reusable, environmentally friendly bags versus plastic shopping bags is an easy step that even the youngest shoppers can take.

Conservation. If children are old enough to wash their hands on their own, they can learn to conserve water.

Parents should teach children to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth, and keep the water flow to a pencil-thin stream when washing their hands. As soon as they're old enough to safely stand in a shower stall and lather up on their own, encourage the child to make the transition from baths to showers. If your family doesn't have low-flow showerheads yet, engage older children in helping out with the simple home improvement project of installing one.

Recycling perfection. Recycling is one earth-friendly activity kids of all ages can get involved in. Children can learn what items regularly used in their homes can be recycled, from soft drink cans and milk bottles to detergent jugs and spaghetti sauce jars. Toddlers and preschoolers can participate in separating and grouping recyclables. Elementary school children can help with washing items and removing labels. Older kids can even get involved with volunteer groups that clean litter throughout the community and recycle trash found on the roadside.

Why help your children "Go Green"? If we can teach our children today about the importance of good environmental habits, the world will be a better place for their children tomorrow.