We all know that global warming and climate change are real. So real that experts say that if we all don’t start doing more for the environment the changes to our planet will be irreversible. Some of us are blessed with eco-friendly kids who seem like they emerged from the womb ready to recycle, whilst some of us have kids who can’t grasp turning the lights off.
Getting your kids on board with being eco-friendly is a challenge in a consumerist society… but it can be done! Here are some tips to help survive raising eco-children.
Nine times out of 10 when you’re buying groceries the clerk will auto-pilot stuff them into a bag. Whether it be groceries or steam buns from the cart on the corner. Let your kids know that 10% of plastic bags end up in the ocean and dolphins only shop online so they really don’t need them.
“Wo buyao daizi” can become your new household motto! Buy everyone in the family a tote bag that they can keep in a pocket or a backpack for anything they want to buy.
Rubbish sorting is relatively new in Shanghai and for some it’s the first time they have had to figure out the difference between wet, dry, recyclable and hazardous garbage. The rules can be confusing to adults let alone kids. Used tissues? Wet garbage. Gum? Wet garbage. Baby diapers. Wet garbage! Right? Wrong?
Showing your kids exactly where certain items need to go in the waste will save lots of headaches (and possible fines) for both you and garbage collectors down the line.
Encourage your kids to use eco-friendly forms of transportation.
We all love Didi… but there are other ways to get around that are earth conscious. Buy them a cool bike or scooter, teach them how to navigate the metro system, or even better: get them out walking! Sure, they may get lost a few times, but they’ll get there eventually! Plus all those emissions you’re saving by not chauffeuring your kids around means less guilt for you when you’re taxiing to and from the massage parlour.
Getting your kids to be earth-friendly will likely be easier than you thought. After all, they’re the ones inheriting global warming and climate change. Taking your kids to spend time outside in nature can help to grow their love of the outdoors and start their own eco-conscious journey. You can try encouraging them to donate or swap toys and clothes they are bored of. This will show them that not everything has to end up in a bin.
When in doubt, tell them that reducing, reusing, and recycling is a new TikTok challenge, and everyone is doing it! That will work for at least a week. Good Luck!
And check out our list of eco grocery shops in Shanghai.
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