Of course, your sustainable mission does not stop once you have children. On the contrary: aren't your children precisely one of the reasons to step up a gear? Still, the parents among us will recognise it. Sustainable parenting is not always easy. When the kids are still small, it's constant weighing and weighing. You don't want to deprive them of anything, but certain things you can't get over your heart because of all the knowledge you have about climate change. Once they pass primary school age, your mission to be a sustainable parent may become even more difficult. In this article, green mum and Jelske shares some useful and, above all, fun tips for getting started with a more conscious parenting style.
Sustainable parenting
So how do you go about sustainable parenting in a positive and light-hearted way? With the tips below, you can start as early as toddlerhood and enjoy them well into primary school. You know best which way suits your child and your style of parenting, so pick the ones you feel comfortable with.
#1 Preschoolers are sponges: set a good sustainable example
Children are sponges and take a lot from their environment. So also from you as a parent or educator. This is a disadvantage if you accidentally blurt out another swear word in front of your offspring, but it is an advantage when it comes to instilling sustainable habits. Do you put on a warm jumper and slippers when it's a bit chilly in the house? Then your toddler will learn that he should put on something warm when he is cold instead of turning up the heating. If you shower briefly by default, your child will know no better than that is normal. You may not immediately see any of your ‘effort’ in toddlerhood. But I regularly get feedback from aware teenage parents that they see their children making more conscious choices around their teenage years, such as eating less meat and buying second-hand clothes. So carry on with what you are doing even if you still get little response ;).
Sustainable activities with your child: make elderflower syrup, go to the library and pick litter together.
#2 Engage in sustainability together and make it fun
Making crafts with packaging materials, picking up rubbish together, going to the thrift shop with pocket money, doing a nature bingo during a walk in the woods, taking the train to visit grandparents or a children's museum. The list of sustainable children's activities is endless and make sustainable parenting incredibly fun! These kinds of children's activities are perfect conversation starters to talk about sustainable topics with children, without diving straight into the deep end. A few examples from our own quarters:
- Cycling: I take my bike as often as possible. While doing so, I tell them that I try to leave the car out because cars and planes make dirty farts that make trees, plants and animals sick. You can explain it as you like, as long as your toddler gets the gist. When your child is a bit older, you can always elaborate.
- Litter picking: When I invite my toddler to go out with the grabber together, I try to explain in kindergarten language why we are doing this. ‘That it makes the earth happy when waste ends up in the bin’ is enough information for a four- or five-year-old.
- Shopping at the thrift shop: When I go shopping at the thrift shop, my son gets to pick a toy with a euro from his piggy bank, and sometimes we also hand in toys. This way, you teach your child about recycling and being able to give away possessions.
- Outing by public transport: Children love public transport. In fact, it doesn't even matter what the destination is, the journey there is already the highlight.
- Getting out into nature with Oerrr: Picking chestnuts or autumn leaves, walking a barefoot path or gnome trail, hiking with the forest ranger, picking blackberries and berries, or simply climbing and scrambling in a nature playground. Being outdoors is a treat in any season. I regularly check the website of Oerrr Nature monuments. They organise all kinds of activities to go into nature with children.
#4 Read together on sustainable topics
As a sustainable parent, do you also read aloud every night? If so, that's a great way to convey a sustainable message. You can find many great children's books with a sustainable theme. Need inspiration? Then check out These children's book tips with a green edge.
#5 Sustainable parenting also means: let it go
The perfect parent does not exist. Perfect sustainable parenting does not exist at all. Therefore, do not be too hard on yourself and your child. Look at the bigger picture and don't stare blindly at the moments when things didn't go well. That your child chose a frikandel at a party, got a balloon in a hardware store or bought a (in your eyes awful) plastic toy with his pocket money. Those moments are part of it too. The fact that you have read this article up to here already proves your commitment to take more conscious steps. Be patient. Don't underestimate the impact of all those small steps. Before you know it, they will be 12, and if adolescent parents are to be believed, they may just then start telling you all the things you should be doing more sustainably....
Sustainable parenting: how do you approach it?
Do you have your own fun, original tip for working with children on sustainability in a positive way? Then let us know! You can work with thegreenlist.nl get in touch via the contact and follow buttons at the bottom of this page. Who knows, you might see your parenting tip later on this site!
More kid tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Looking for an original birth present? Then check out THE list of sustainable maternity gifts.
- Want to decorate a children's room sustainably? With these tips, you'll tackle the kids' room more (price) consciously.
- Ever thought about buying children's toothpaste more sustainably? Mascha did a test with her test panel: which sustainable kids' toothpaste do kids like best?
Photo credits main image: Allan Mas (Pexels), other photos: thegreenlist.nl.
