I believe it is important to teach your child to love and respect the nature – and to start doing that in your child’s early years. Here are a few tips on what you can do, sharing your environmental values with a toddler.
- Visit parks or woods and show your little one how to be gentle. How not to damage tress or plants or not to leave garbage behind. Tell him about how all creatures have a place in nature and that they also have job to do. If you see a chipmunk rushing around, explain that he is gathering food – most probably to feed his family.
- This time of year, you can make snacks for the hungry birds who will visit your backyard. Here is a recipe for a treat your feathered friends will love:
Bird Treat Recipe:
You will need:
- Slice of bread (fairly dense one will work the best)
- Drinking straw
- Peanut butter (at room temperature)
- Cup of bird seed
- Cookie cutter, butter knife, piece of yarn or string
What to do:
- Toast the bread and let it cool
- Help you child to use the cookie cutter to cut out the shape you choose (press real hard)
- Poke a hole (about 1 inch from the edge) with the straw
- Spread peanut butter on one side of the bread and lay it – peanut butter side down on the bird seed you have spread on a plate. Press firmly.
- Butter and seed the other side of the bread.
- Let your treat dry for a few minutes, then thread the yearn or string through the hole.
- Go outside and find a good branch to hang your treat – best if you find a spot your child will see from your window.
- Watch him enjoy his new friends and repeat as often as possible!
- At home, make him help you with recycling routines. You can make it his job to take newspapers to your recycling bin on regular basis.
- Teach him to turn off the lights when you are leaving a room. If your child is old enough, provide a low stool so that he can reach the switch. And it can also be his job to remind you in case you forget to turn the light off when they are not needed to be on.
- Visit your local market or a farm so he can learn where food comes from. It will be a great trip and lots of fun if he can participate and pick some fruits or vegetables.
- These may seems like little tips but if you follow them, you will be surprised how much they can mean to a child. And chances are that he will spread his knowledge to his friends – so every little bit means a lot!
Hope you enjoyed reading this and as always, I will welcome any comments, suggestions or experiences you have – please share!
