According to CarbonFootprint.com, a carbon footprint is the total amount of impact that our day to day activities have on the environment and climate change in particular. This can include anything from driving a car to turning on the bathroom light in the morning. Everyone has a carbon footprint. No matter how old or young someone is they are bound to leave behind some type of carbon footprint and this includes even the youngest of children. It is possible to teach children ways to live consciously and reduce their carbon footprint by making a few lifestyle changes and teaching good habits along the way.
Carpool
Carpool as often as possible to help reduce the number of CO2 emissions released into the air as a result of your child's need to get back and forth to school, sports, lessons and play dates. Talk to other parents in your neighborhood about setting up a carpool system where one parent picks up the kids on assigned days of the week. Not only will this lessen your family's impact on the environment, but it can also help to reduce the carbon footprint of other families in your neighborhood as well.
Teach Water Conservation
Children are notorious for leaving the water running. Letting it run while brushing their teeth or any of a number of other things can add up to a lot of wasted water. Teach your child to shut the water off when they aren't using it, and lead by example. Conserving water is a simple lifestyle change that can go a long way, and it is an easy way for kids to be able to do their part.
Turn Things Off
The Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Change for Kids' website reports that simply turning things off when you aren't using them can make a huge difference and help reduce your carbon footprint. Children may leave lights, the computer or the television on when they aren't using them, which uses more electricity. Teach your child the importance of turning things off when they leave the room and make an effort to do the same yourself.
Play Outside
Just as turning things off can reduce your child's carbon footprint, so can encouraging them to play outside. Not only can this type of play be beneficial for their health, but it also lessens the amount of time they spend indoors drawing electricity.
Reuse and Recycle
Recycle or reuse old things to lessen the number of things you throw away. Recycling and reusing are great projects for kids. Set up colored trash bins that make it easy for them to sort plastic, aluminum, glass and paper and keep it separate from the garbage. Look for craft ideas that let you reuse old items that might have otherwise been thrown away and spend some time crafting with your kids.
Member Comments