{"id":7511,"date":"2023-05-22T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=7511"},"modified":"2025-01-23T18:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T17:34:11","slug":"sustainable-parenting-tips-from-a-green-mum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/duurzaam-ouderschap-tips-van-een-groene-mama\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable parenting: tips from a green mum!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sustainable parenting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 Preschoolers are sponges: set a good sustainable example<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018effort\u2019 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 ;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div>
\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div>
\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable activities with your child: make elderflower syrup, go to the library and pick litter together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 Engage in sustainability together and make it fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n