Conservation Will Protect the World for Future Generations
Children are born curious. They are interested and excited to know about the natural world and what happens in it. Most of them are also instinctively drawn to animals, especially small, fluffy, cute ones. Using their natural curiosity and love of animals is a great way to teach kids about conservation.
Below are some reasons why it’s some important for modern kids to learn about conserving wild places and protecting wild animals.
© Dain Lewis
It’s Their Planet Too
We only have one Earth, and if we don’t take care of it, terrible things can happen. Our land and water are under attack from a variety of different sources, and without intervention, future generations might not have enough food to eat or clean water to drink.
Technology makes our lives so much easier, but it has taken its toll on our environment in a variety of different forms. Factories pollute the air, which leads to the destruction of the ozone layer and acid rain. As the population of humans grows, we need more land to grow crops and to build our houses, so land degradation has been increasing in recent decades.
By teaching our children to be respectful of the planet, we can slow down many of these threats to the environment so that future generations can enjoy the same natural resources we often take for granted, such as clean air and water, along with the incredible wild animals that we share this world with.
© Michael Poliza
They Are Disconnected From Nature
The vast majority of kids today spend a lot of time in front of screens—whether it’s a TV screen, computer screen, phone or tablet, kids aren’t as connected to nature as previous generations were. This has been called “Nature Deficit Disorder,” and the way to fix it is to get kids outside and educate them about nature. If kids don’t feel connected to their environment, they won’t have a desire to protect it.
It doesn’t take much to teach children about the environment or to get kids excited about nature. You don’t even have to travel to exotic places with your family—although you certainly can if you’re so inclined! Taking your kids around your neighborhood and talking about the trees and animals you see could be enough to show them how important the natural world is to our survival.
If you’d like for your kids to explore nature more in-depth, here are some ideas to help accomplish that:
- Go camping
- Visit an animal sanctuary
- Go birdwatching
- Take a hike in the woods or your local park
- Plant a garden
- Visit a zoo or aquarium
- Test your wildlife knowledge with animal trivia games
- Learn more about the world’s most amazing animals on your smartphone or tablet
They Can Make a Difference
It doesn’t matter what age your child is, there is something they can do to help conserve our planet. Lead by example so they can mimic your everyday conservation actions, and make sure they understand exactly why you are doing what you do. Take time to explain to them why it’s important not to leave the water running when they are brushing their teeth, or how recycling helps keep trash out of landfills.
There are a variety of conservation activities kids can do on their own, with their friends or while they are at school. However, their work shouldn’t stop there. They should also be doing things in the home, and with your help, they’ll become educated stewards of planet Earth.
Educating children about the importance of environmental conservation will help ensure the long-term health of our planet for generations to come. Teaching kids about the environment and nature can be fun and exciting if you can take advantage of kids’ natural curiosity to educate them about their surroundings. Use that curiosity to give them the tools they need to save the world.
This guest post was written by Emily Folk, a freelance writer and blogger on topics of conservation, sustainability and renewable energy.
