A Caring Nature Education News from Alleyn's | www.alleyns.org.uk Emma Addleton, Teacher at Alleyn’s Junior School, tells us how to nurture a love of the environment in our children.
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hildren adore nature. From building a sandcastle on the beach to taking a simple trip to the park, it is easy to engage them. They are fascinated about what makes the world what it is, our place in it and how it affects us. When the connection between children or young people and the environment is nurtured their natural love of the outdoors can be translated into a commitment to care for our planet. By fostering these philosophies in an age-appropriate way, they are much more likely to stick with them as they get older. Here are some ideas to encourage this mind-set:
Getting From A To B Talk to your child about why it is a good idea to leave the car at home on smaller journeys. What is the car doing to our environment and how can we make a difference? They will quickly understand how taking a train, walking, cycling or scooting is not only healthier but that these small trips have a huge impact on local pollution.
Food Buy a mesh bag as an alternative to single-use plastic bags and let your child hand pick your fruit and vegetables at the shop to reduce your singleuse plastic waste. Discuss with them how you can reduce plastic with other food purchases, for example by buying in bulk or choosing goods in more sustainable packaging. Better still, why not grow some of your own vegetables in a pot or in your garden?
Recycling If they aren’t already doing it, make sure your child understands which materials go in each of your recycling bins and get them sorting the waste! Soon it will be second nature. 28 | SE22 - March 2020
Your Local Community Check out what your local community is doing to help environmental issues. You might find a number of groups working for various causes. Plastic Free, for example, are striving to abolish single-use plastic in local businesses and schools in their area, (and there is a branch in East Dulwich). Look them up and see if you can go along to a litter-picking session or a meeting.
What’s On Opening children’s minds to global climate issues will enable them to form their own ideals and ambitions for the environment. Help them learn through documentary wildlife programmes and books, and introduce them to the inspiring work of Sir David Attenborough. This will help your child look beyond their immediate environment and gain awareness of what other communities or creatures are facing in our world.
Useful Resources 1) BBC Seven Worlds, One Planet documentary series 2) No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference – book by Greta Thunberg 3) Plastic Free Community Network at www.sas.org.uk/plastic-free-communities 4) Greta and the Giants – children’s book by Zoe Tucker 5) The Week Junior - www.theweekjunior.co.uk 6) National Geographic Kids – www.natgeokids.co.uk
