This giveaway is now closed. Congrats Kristie!
At almost four years old, my son knows a little bit about recycling and waste. He’s too little to understand the specifics of why we eat what we eat or use what we use, so we’re mostly teaching by example, in hopes that he’ll grow up respecting the earth’s resources.
Children are naturally inquisitive beings that pick up on more than we think. With many children’s television shows airing Earth Day-themed episodes this month, my son has picked up on some of the things he can do to “be green.” I’ve found him “turning off lights” and throwing away items in the recycle portion of our trash can. It got me thinking about what I can do to educate, inspire, and involve both of my children in green living:
1. My husband and I are leading by example. My son is paying attention to what we do and it’s important for him to see us consistent in both our words and our actions.
2. We read children’s books about green living.
3. We talk about simple things he can do to help “save the earth” like turning off lights, not wasting water, and recycling.
4. We plant seeds together and watch them grow.
What do you as a parent do to foster a sense of respect for the environment within your children?
This is the second week of the Scott Naturals 4 Week Test Drive. Every person who pledges to use Scott Naturals paper products for four weeks helps achieve the goal of saving 2 million trees. While you’re over there, why not enter to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid? And, as part of the challenge, they’ve partnered with the National Wildlife Federation to donate $1 per unique click up to $25,000.
Win It! One of you will win a Scott Naturals Kit! Simply leave me a comment with one way you can inspire your children towards green living. Comments will close on May 5th, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.
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susanlanai says
We believe we can inspire our little one by setting an example on what green living is . . . it will come so natural to him!
susanlanai says
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Jackie says
We encourage our daughters to recycle, take shorter showers and to turn off lights/computers when not using. Thanks!
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Kristie says
We like to recycle, dry clothes on the line and grow our own veggies (and can/freeze them.)
Kristie says
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Kristie says
I like your blog on facebook.
JW says
set up a recycling station in your home
JW says
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SnowflakeDay (Audra) says
I plan on teaching my daughter to be greener by teaching her my gardening tricks. We try hard every year to find new ways to use natural products instead of chemicals on our yard and flower garden. For example, using boiled water or vinegar to kill weeds in the driveway instead of chemicals.
SnowflakeDay (Audra) says
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following you on twitter as SnowflakeDay & tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/SnowflakeDay/statuses/61065856624492544
Lori Z. says
They like to help me make things–like our own laundry detergent. They treat it like a science experiment and have messy fun.
Lori Z. says
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Cindy S. says
One way we try to inspire our children toward green living is by setting a good example and teaching them to conserve water, electricity (turn off those lights and TV!) and to put paper and plastic in the recycle bin!
Cindy S. says
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nan says
he knows he shouldn’t run the water while brushing his teeth and to turn off lights/tv when leaving the room
nannypanpan at gmail.com
nan says
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Jennifer T. says
We try to inspire a love of nature and strive for conservation when possible with our child.
jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com
Jennifer T. says
I’m an e-mail subscriber.
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Jennifer T. says
I’m a facebook fan under username Jennie Tilson.
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clarisa says
i thnk the best way is to be a good example!
clarisa says
http://twitter.com/cneiding/status/61264898021269504 tweet
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Brenda S. says
I’m an email subscriber.
Lentil says
We don’t make a big deal of it, we just lead by example. We walk places, use canvas grocery bags, frequent farmers markets and limit our use of processed foods. We try to make green living the norm.
Carolyn says
I encourage her not to throw away recyclable containers and use cloth napkins.
tiffany says
my toddler has a set of reusable bags just for her to take to the store. I want her using them from the time she can remember on, so that it will be second nature!
tiffany says
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Barbara M says
Inspire the children by my own good example.
They help sort the recyclables.
Thank you.
barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com
Barbara M says
I follow you on Twitter @JalapenoMama and a tweet.
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Like you on Facebook (Barbara Montag)
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Barbara M says
Shared this giveaway on FB (Barbara Montag)
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Tina M says
We planted a garden together and i teach them to recycle as much as them can.
Tina M says
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Tina M says
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SANDY says
set the example and get them excited- grow a garden, recycle but make it fun
EMMA L HORTON says
LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND WE RECYCLE, PAPERS, GLASS AND PLASTICS
EMMA L HORTON says
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susan varney says
we do the same thing teach them when they are young and it comes natural [email protected]
Vicki Wurgler says
we recycle as much as we can plus their school also recycles
Vicki Wurgler says
I subscribe
Kiara says
I inspire by setting a good example.
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Pat says
Like you, I believe the best I can do is by setting a good example–recycling, turning off lights, walking instead of riding.
Deb says
By example …. turn off lights, water, etc. Recycle even the little things like toilet paper rolls and misc. paper.
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crystle tellerday says
we recycle
Jacob says
I like to ride my bike whenever I can. I ride it to the grocery store and use reusable bags.
Jacob says
I follow you on Twitter under the name JCHARRIES and tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/JCHARRIES/status/62911213700530176
Jacob says
I like you on Facebook and my homepage is http://www.facebook.com/jacob.charries
Jacob says
I am an e-mail subscriber
Paige Chandler says
My kids learn by example. They recycle and just helped us change out to Green Light Bulbs.
cherice says
We have a really big plant pot that we plugged so it collects water when it rains and my son knows that he needs to use that water to “feed” his flowers and plants. Thanks for the chance!
cherice says
I subscribe 🙂
Tabathia B says
By starting a garden and unplugging as you go through your day and turning off water when brushing your teeth and shorter showers (lead by example)
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
fb fan(michelle b)
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Tabathia B says
shared on fb
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Tabathia B says
stumbled post (chelleb36)
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Tabathia B says
twitter follower & tweeted
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chris says
recycle and reuse
Tabathia B says
tweet
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Debra Hall says
we recycle cans and use only cloth shopping bags, its the little steps that teach a life long process
Debra Hall says
im a email subscriber
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im a facebook fan
Cheryl says
We set a good example by turning off lights, recycling, and using cloth shopping bags
Cheryl says
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Tabathia B says
tweet
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tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
tweet
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tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Patricia says
We have a veggie garden and a home orchard. We also Recycle.
Patricia says
Email subscriber
Trisha Lynn says
Children lead by example so first off being green yourself is a perfect place to start! And going on nature walks and discussing what earrth is and why we need to make it a better pllace and asking what they think they can do to help!
Trisha Lynn says
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Tabathia B says
tweet
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tweet
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tweet
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Erica C. says
We like to plant flowers and veggies and include the kids in the process.
Tabathia B says
tweet
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ashley says
we have started recycling basic things so we have certain bins for different types of products
ashley says
i try to inspire my son to live green by doing it myself, and by taking him out into nature as much as possible. we do a lot of camping & hiking and we always pack out more than we packed in.
Katie S. says
I just make sure that we recycle and turn off lights and stuff at home. Nothing seriously major, just the easy common sense stuff that ends up making the biggest difference when done over the long term.
Tammy Darling says
I’m teaching them to recycle!
Tabathia B says
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/65963544075698176
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Cori Westphal says
My kids are learning to conserve. We are tearing our paper towels in half, counting out our toilet paper sheets, and learning what the recycling numbers mean on all our plastics!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal says
I like you on facebook: Cori Eckstrom Westphal (http://www.facebook.com/coriwestphal)
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melinda says
I can teach my little love by being an example. She can see that I do not like to throw things in the trash that can be recreated. We can spray paint an old mirror and give it a fun new twist. We can add new paint and knobs to a dresser instead of kicking it to the curb. We can recycle everything together so it can become instilled in her 🙂
william mckinley says
we use solar panels for our lighting and fans and set our summer temp on the ac not to kick in until 108
rebecca says
We teach by how we live, that we care for others, and beyond that we care for our environment.
rebecca says
I like you on facebook Rebecca Rps
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Emmi says
Teach them to conserve on water
Emmi says
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Tabathia B says
tweet’
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Melanie says
By showing them how other families live more green.
Marci says
Quite often my daughters and I talk about the things we can do to make our earth a better place to live. I tell them some ideas then they come up with their own ideas. It’s fun to hear what they can think up.
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susan smoaks says
to inspire our children toward green living we live by example with carpooling, recycling and composting
Susan Smith says
My children participate in our recycling
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I liked this giveaway
DanV says
I can inspire them by having them help recycle
Kellie Conklin says
I try to inspire kids by using cloth towels instead of the millions of paper towels I used to use when cleaning up big messes. When I do things that are “green” I try to talk through why I am doing it without directly lecturing. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kellie Conklin says
I’m an email subscriber, thanks!
Gianna says
I’m teaching mine to garden.
Gianna says
I’m an email subscriber.
Veronica Garrett says
We can inspire our daughter toward green living by teaching her about why it is important for her to not let the faucet keep running and to turn off the light when no one is in the room. As she grows older we can teach her other things to do to help the environment and to conserve our natural resources.