Bring Environmental Awareness To Kids

Young children are born with a strong connection to nature, but if it is not nourished, they will lose that bond, along with their empathy for all living things and the capacity to live in harmony.

By not emphasizing a child's relationship with the world around them, we are hurting their development. We don't see children outside much anymore, so where can they get this education? You want children to know their own habitats and the ecosystems in their neighborhoods. You can't bring a pond into a classroom, but you can bring in plants, animals and fish tanks. We need to get children to ask questions, but we don't have to call them questions. One way to do this is to give the children something from the natural world, an oak gall, for instance. Have them examine it with a magnifying glass, and then start a sentence with the words, "I wonder...' Post these sentences on a blackboard to honor their contributions.

Then find the 'wonder statement' that are testable - that is, the questions that you can research further. For example, "Do all seeds stick to materials?' Then you can test it out. It is a slow process, but the children begin to get excited. They are very tactile, and they don't often get opportunities to use this sense. It really is all about being kids.

Once the children start focusing on a plant, an animal or even just a question, that's all they see. It heightens their awareness. Every time they turn around they see it. If children take care of one plant, they will see plants all around them that need water or care. They will begin to pay attention.

Best Regards,

Tina Wesson, Editor -in- Chief

Ways To Bring Environmental Awareness To Kids:

1. Collect recyclables and turn them into art. A paper towel or toliet paper roll, filled with beans and taped or stapled on the ends, makes a great musical shaker. Decorate with markers or paint for a unique look. a milk container can be made into a birdfeeder with a few cuts with the scissors. don't forget - once you start feeding the birds, you need to keep doing it.

2. Make sprouts, Purchase alfalfa seeds (or sunflower seeds for a little spice) and sprout them. Place deeds in a glass jar and moisten with water. Rinse the seeds with water each day and shake up the jar. After seven days, you should have a jar full of delicious sprouts.

3. Participate in local cleanup days. Many communities sponsor such activities to coincide with Earth Day. Look for events at local parks, beaches and recreation areas.

4. Go Outside! Spend time in nature with your children. Take a walk or a hike up a mountain, play on the beach or stroll in your local park. Whenever you go, look for signs of the season, notice the local flora and fauna, breathe deeply, and wonder at this amazingly beautiful world that we get to be part of.

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