Child-friendly ways to care for the environment

Every year, on 22 April millions of people around the world celebrate Earth Day and take action for a greener, more equitable future for our planet. This year’s theme, Invest in our Planet’, highlights the ways we can all actively participate in solving the climate crisis. 

It’s never too early to teach children to care about the environment. Educating and supporting children to become environmentally responsible is an important part of early childhood.  

You can help your child learn about how to take care of the environment with these practical ideas you can do together at home. Discussing what you’re doing and why you’re making these decisions also supports language development.  
 

• Be water wise. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth! Talk about the rainfall and the water cycle, from rain to water storage to usage   

• Create and label your recycling bins in the kitchen  

• Start a compost bin for food scraps - talk about how food breaks down into soil you can use in the garden. Watch as the scraps change to soil  

• Collect your own seeds and grow them in empty milk cartons or other discarded containers. Talk about self-sufficiency and what it means 

• Encourage their belief that they can make a difference. “Wow you grew those tomatoes from seeds! Well done!”   

• Collect material throughout the year to make your own wrapping paper and cards. Teach children to get excited and thoughtful about the possibilities  

• Save old buttons and bows for other clothes or artwork. Talk about how recycling and upcycling avoids waste 

• Help build your child's confidence by giving them their own role in sustainability, such as collecting rainwater to water the garden or sorting recyclables for re-purpose. They’ll soon be enthusiastic about their task!  

• Respond to your little one's questions and comments with simple honest answers. “We have to save water because we haven’t had as much rain as usual this year”. Be ready to follow-up your answers with more details if they ask for more.   

 

Books help start the conversation
  

Children’s brains are designed to absorb knowledge and learn new behaviours. Reading books about sustainability is a great way to start discussing a difficult topic.   

Here are some books on an environmental theme:  

Australia's wild weird wonderful weather by Stephanie Owen Reeder 

Koalas eat gum leaves by Laura Bunting   

Old enough to save the planet by Loll Kirby 

One remarkable reef by Kellie Byrnes   

The ABC kids guide to loving the planet by Jaclyn Crupi  

The polar bear in Sydney Harbour by Beck Feiner  

The pout pout fish cleans up the ocean by Deborah Diesen  

The wonderful wisdom of ants by Philip Bunting  

What we’ll build by Oliver Jeffers 
  

Your local public library may have some of these titles or ask library staff for other titles on this topic! Watch out for library activities that can help children develop good sustainability practices.   

First 5 Forever sessions are free at your local public library. Join other families and enjoy a fun adventure with your little one!