My post today is about learning to connect with nature and the respect, value and love we should have for our environment and all living beings with whom we share this planet. It worries me when I see in the news how animal abuse increases, the abuse to the environment as well as how we simply destroy and pollute everything that is part of our environment and that is vital. That is why I believe that as parents and as a family we have the responsibility to teach future generations what it means to value nature.
There are very simple things we can do to start this learning path with our little ones and even with the young ones if they have forgotten. Some of these strategies are:
My garden at home:
Each of us can have a garden at home, even if we do not have a large space we can have a small plant or a group of them. I remember as a child my grandmother taught me how to have aquatic plants on a wall using as a container the light bulbs that were damaged and were going to end up in the trash over the years we managed to have a beautiful wall with small aquatic plants that hung and I was in charge of maintaining and monitoring them that helped me to create the value, respect and love for the natural environment and made me responsible for the life of the plants. Teaching a child to plant and care for a plant engages him/her with other life that grows and always needs love and care.
Source: pixabay.com
Respect for animals:
For all of us who love pets and consider them part of our family, having a pet at home is something common. Children tend to get attached to animals from the most exotic to those we consider domestic, it is very important before selecting a pet and give that responsibility to the child to talk to him about what it means to be in charge of another living being that will need you all his life. It is not about having a pet on a whim or because it is cute when it is small and when it grows up we do not want it anymore, it implies a commitment of the family with this being that counts on us throughout its existence.
Another very important thing is to teach our children from a very young age that animals feel pain if they are harmed or attacked just like us, that they have a home in nature and how people sometimes with their bad behavior and pollution kill animals cruelly and just for fun, we must end the culture of animal violence and that can only be achieved if the family is united in love and respect for animals.
Source: pixabay.com
Do not litter or pollute:
This life strategy invites us as a family to be considerate with the planet, not to generate excessive garbage, not to damage the planet by throwing garbage in natural spaces and in the places where we live or go for a walk. This is learned by example. When buying products, let's show our children how to select those that are environmentally friendly and do not pollute, that have biodegradable or reusable packaging.
Source: pixabay.com
Taking care of natural resources:
Taking care of natural resources, especially water and land, guarantees us years of life on the planet. At home we can apply the rational use of water in daily household activities and make our children learn the importance of rationing and caring for the use of it, for example, the water we use to wash clothes can be recycled for use in toilets or other cleaning tasks. In the toilet tanks we can use a water saving system and things as simple and easy as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, taking a bath and things that are learned at home.
Source: pixabay.com
Thank you all for this moment of reading and growing, now if you can share some good ideas to learn with our children the care and love for nature please write it in your comments.