5 Simple Ways to Raise Environmental Awareness in Children

As the modern world in grappling with environmental and climate change issues, it has becoming increasingly important to have a shift in our mindsets and especially get our children, the global citizens of tomorrow, understand and respect the planet. And needless to say, the future generations' views and actions about the environment are greatly influenced by early childhood education. This also helps to lay the foundation for responsible, conscious individuals who value sustainable practices.  At Dibber International Preschools, we encourage environmental awareness for children by including them in nature-based activities, using interactive learning resources, and encouraging eco-conscious thinking. This article will cover how parents, caregivers, and educators can work together to integrate environmental values into our young children’s early education journey - organically, seamlessly, playfully, and of course, meaningfully. 

Early Childhood Education's Role in Environmental Awareness for Children Children are more likely to exhibit pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours when they comprehend how the adults they look up to and the natural world interact and are interrelated. 

 To further elaborate the point, young children may form a close bond with their surroundings and cultivate awe and respect for the natural world when we, as environmentally-conscious adults introduce eco-friendly habits via practical, hands-on activities like gardening, planting seeds, recycling projects, even observing insects in the park and during nature hikes. 

Early exposure to environmental awareness for children can also foster a greater respect for the natural world and a sense of duty to protect it, that can grow into lifelong environmental stewardship. 

How to Integrate Environmental Awareness for Children in Early Education? 

1. Incorporate Nature-Based Activities Through Play 

Incorporating activities involving the outdoors into the curriculum is one of the easiest and most efficient strategies to raise environmental awareness. Children can cultivate a stronger bond with nature via sensory exploration of the natural world, horticultural projects, and outdoor field excursions. Through these activities, they get a deeper understanding of our planet's beauty and fragility. 

Children can also view different plant and animal species in their native settings by going on outdoor field trips to nearby national parks, nature reserves, or botanical gardens. In addition to encouraging awe and curiosity, these encounters also instil a sense of duty to protect biodiversity, while helping them explore textures, sounds, and smells of the natural world. 

2. Make Use of Interactive Educational Resources 

Technology has the potential to significantly improve environmental awareness for children. They can explore environmental themes in fun and engaging ways with the help of enjoyable learning resources like educational websites and apps. Interactive tests, virtual reality experiences, and videos can hold their interest while helping them learn more about environmental challenges. 

3. Encourage Children to Follow Three Rs

The often-cited sustainability slogan is the three Rs: Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce. Reusing or recycling whatever that can be should be. For instance, don't discard the plastic water bottles you purchased from the shop; instead, recycle them and use them to keep water for plants at home or even as planters to grow microgreens. Try to use the reusable containers to store their snacks. Small deeds like these, that they see you doing, will help young children realise that every choice makes a difference, even without you having to spell it out. Actions speak louder than words, after all, right? 

4. Establish a Sustainable Learning Space

Promoting environmental awareness requires establishing a sustainable learning environment. Teachers may include energy conservation, composting, recycling, and other sustainable measures into their daily lessons. Schools can start using natural light when possible and take children’s help in gardening the plants within the campus. Children learn about sustainable living firsthand and form lasting habits by watching and imitating these behaviours.  

Many of Dibber International Preschools in South Africa, and in the other countries we are present, provide lovely outdoor spaces and gardens where children explore and develop their natural curiosity and gain hands-on learning that builds environmental awareness naturally. 

5. Encourage Parental Involvement

For environmental education programs to have a lasting impact, parents must be involved. Educators may encourage parental involvement by hosting community events and organizing webinars and seminars. They can also be encouraged to do DIY projects with their offsprings at home or even share eco-themed age-appropriate story books to read with their young ones at the comfort of their homes. When children get consistent messages about the need of environmental protection from both parents and their educators, the message becomes stronger, and they start to model the adults around them. 

To sum up, encouraging environmental awareness for children is essential to developing environmentally-conscious individuals and changemakers of tomorrow. Teachers and parents should provide the groundwork for a sustainable future by recognizing the value of environmental awareness, including environmental education into early learning, resolving issues, and putting good habits into practice.  

By working together, communities, parents, and educators can help young children develop a sense of environmental responsibility and create a more sustainable and greener world for future generations.