How to raise eco-friendly kids in a way that is positive for you and them

The topic of sustainability is making headlines around the globe. As parents, we are inundated daily with messages, if not commands, about our responsibility in making changes that will leave the planet in a better condition for the next generation. In addition to minimizing reliance on fossil fuels and eliminating waste, that responsibility includes teaching our children to also live eco-friendly lives. While your pre-parenting days were undoubtedly filled with images of a pristine house sparkling clean without the use of harsh chemicals, garden-fresh food at every meal and images of your precious bundle swathed in organic cotton, reality strikes when you begin to balance parenthood alongside the other relationships and responsibilities in your life.

Raising children who understand the importance of caring for the planet is in the best interest of everyone, and few people dispute the benefits of eliminating single-use plastic or creating a sustainable food supply. The problem is that modern conveniences like disposable diapers and jarred baby food were developed for a reason; life comes at you fast and, inasmuch, we are forced to pick and choose where we direct our time and energy. When it comes to raising kids, we do the best we can, and teaching them to be environmentally friendly is no exception to that philosophy. But don’t let yourself become overwhelmed or completely consumed by the concept. To do so will only cause your children to feel your anxiety about it all. Instead, take control of what you can, and let the rest go.

Focus on easy swaps

Life operates at lightning speed while we juggle work, 4H meetings, volunteer efforts and myriad other extracurricular activities. It’s okay if you don’t have time to can your own vegetables, and you rely on prepackaged snacks for school lunches. Every effort counts, so tackle what you can and take pride in it! The most important thing is to communicate with your children about the why. Why is it important to eliminate plastic? Why do we recycle? Why is it good for the planet to have a meatless meal once each week? Why are we using regular dinner plates instead of plastic foam or wax-coated disposable plates?

Related: Plastic straws are a thing of the past, but which reusable straw is best for the future?

There’s no end to the list of ways you can show your children how to care for the planet, but here are some easy swaps to get you started.

1. Grow a garden and eat fresh produce, or can and store food for later.
2. Insist everyone carry a refillable bottle instead of buying single-use.
3. If you need disposables, focus on buying paper plates and cups instead of plastic.
4. Volunteer for road or beach cleanup events with your kids.
5. Buy bulk snacks instead of individually packaged ones, and rely on reusable containers for lunch portions.
6. Install low-flow shower heads and faucets.
7. Use cooled cooking water to water plants instead of dumping it down the drain.
8. Replace plastic baby bottles or liners with glass or stainless steel.

It’s not black and white

It’s great to focus on educating your kids about sustainability and conscientious purchasing, but almost as important as the message is how you go about teaching it. It’s easy to subscribe to the idea that you’re a failure if you don’t manage to incorporate every eco-friendly idea into your daily ritual. The truth is you’ll never reach a 100 percent sustainable lifestyle, and it’s important to instead focus on changes you can make. This isn’t an all-or-nothing situation. Letting your kids know that we’re all doing our best in our own way is as powerful of a lesson as helping them understand why they shouldn’t leave the water running while they brush their teeth.

Don’t believe every headline

Some journalists, magazine editors, publishers and newspapers make their money via sensationalism. Headlines sell. Many of those headlines set out to scare parents with stories about car seat failures, mercury in baby food or the possibility of toxins leaching from common products. Definitely be informed about what scientists and researchers are working on, but don’t allow a headline to make you feel guilt or shame. You’re doing the best you can, and if you can’t afford organic sheets for every bed in the house, don’t let that headline about cotton killing the planet or being toxic for your child make you feel like you’ve failed. Stay the course and upgrade to organic when you can, if you can. Otherwise, celebrate your wins in other categories like stuffing stockings with reusable straws and reusable drink containers.

Focus on mitigating risks

The world is a big and scary place. If you let it, every product purchase and parenting decision will be shrouded with a cloud of self-doubt. It’s okay, you’re doing great. When you feel overwhelmed by the entire process, focus on those things that carry the highest risk in your mind. After all, every child eats mud pie at some point. While your mind might scream, “What if there’s RoundUp in that soil?” the reality is that making sure your child doesn’t swallow a rock or ensuring he wears sunscreen (and choosing a reef-friendly option) is likely more important.

Be okay with good enough

There are a million ways you can encourage your children to practice behaviors that benefit the Earth. Just remember that no one can do it all. You’re message will be much clearer if you focus on some areas that are really important to you. Conserve water when you can. Grow food if you have the space and time. Use cloth diapers if it makes sense for your family. Give yourself a break if you’re not in top form every minute. Using cloth diapers at home and allowing yourself to use disposables while on vacation is still progress. The point is that your children will get more out of your message if they have an action plan rather than a mixed message of anxiety and frustration by trying to take on too much.

Related: Cut plastic from your home and inspire your family to live plastic-free

Support other parents

We are all in this together. As they say, it takes a village. Every parent has their own ideas of how to do the job, but we all have the same goal in mind — to raise healthy, happy, caring, well-adjusted kids. So, reach out and support your fellow parents. Meet them wherever they are at on the whole eco-friendly parenting spectrum. Congratulate your sister-in-law for her dedication to breastfeeding. Thank your co-worker for volunteering to teach kids about recycling. Offer to help another parent set up booths at the community sustainability fair. Acknowledge the parent who throws a birthday bash sans habitat-endangering balloons, glitter and plastic tablecloths.

Show them the how and why

Children mostly learn from our example, regardless of what our words tell them. So when they see us refuse the straw at the restaurant, it reinforces your message that it’s important to avoid unnecessary items that add to the waste problem and endanger wildlife.

One of the best ways to encourage children to care about nature is to spend time outdoors. This instills a love for the beauty, plants and animals in nature and a desire to protect it all in the future.

Written by Dawn Hammon

Images via Shutterstock