How to Talk to Your Kids About Reducing Waste

Having discussions with your kids about the environment can be tricky. How do you explain to them the vital importance of protecting the planet without scaring them or coming off all doom-and-gloom? 

Some parents feel that talking about this subject can be overwhelming, so they avoid it. But in reality, it doesn’t have to be so difficult. Initiating these conversations can be simple and empowering, not to mention essential for creating a prosperous future for our kids. 

We’ve compiled a list of different resources and ideas to inspire the conversation and leave your children feeling motivated and excited to build a better planet.

Educate them about the issue

First thing is first, in order to live a greener life, kids need to understand the “why.” Why is reducing waste necessary? Why do we create so much waste in the first place? Our children are capable of understanding problems far more complicated than we usually give them credit for. Often they are also the ones to produce the most unique solutions. 

So what’s the best way to start your child’s clean planet education? With some good books! Below are a few of our favorite books that demonstrate the issue in a way that’s digestible and motivating and then propose solutions that are doable for kids.

Earth Ninja: A Children’s Book About Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing by Mary Nhin

Age: Baby - 11 years

The Ninja Life Hacks series is about a kid ninja who faces a lot of the world’s big problems. It was developed to help kids learn valuable life skills. This particular book follows him on his journey to save the planet. He practices “The 3 R’s” to make a difference in the world. It does a great job of simplifying the situation and keeping it entertaining. 

Save the Ocean (Save the Earth) by Bethany Stahl

Age: 2 - 7 years

The immersive stories of Bethany Stahl are an engaging way to teach children about the ocean, recycling, and conservation. With beautiful illustrations that keep readers captivated time after time, it's no surprise this book has received such rave reviews from the parent community. The book includes a fun, interactive search and find game as well as bonus pages with sketches. There is also an author page that shares real-life adventures of how this writer saved our oceans (and was even received recognition by Dr. Jane Goodall). 

Save the Scraps (Save the Earth) by Bethany Stahl

Age: 3 - 8 years

Another book in this series, Save the Scraps, tells the story of two kids who learn how important it is that they save their left-over scraps from dinner every day. With more fantastic illustrations, these fun informative books will have you laughing while teaching your little ones all about composting too. It’s the perfect children's picture book to read for Earth Day.

Not for me, please! I choose to act green by Maria Godsey

Age: 2 - 7 years

The final book on our list invites you to join Luke on his journey to save what he loves with this engaging children's picture book about sustainability and acting green. After noticing the damage caused by wastefulness, pollution, or just trash in general, Luke decides it is time for action. The changes he makes in his life will inspire you to make some changes in yours!

Get them involved in your conservation efforts

After educating your kids on the situation and offering them some simple solutions, tell them a little bit about what you do.  

Do you recycle? Tell them about the products, how they’re separated, and where they go. Teaching kids to recycle at an early age has proved to be easier than many parents imagined, and the process of sorting and organizing is good for brain development. Some families tape pictures of the products that go in each recycling bin to help remind kids where their waste goes.

How do you reduce your waste? Maybe you’ve stopped using plastic bags when you pack lunches and swapped them for reusable containers. Explain your thought process to your kids and model a conscious effort to live more eco-friendly. There are so many super simple kid-friendly actions they can take to reduce their waste.

What products do you reuse? Do you give your old baby clothes as hand-me-downs to friends and family? Do you refill your mini shampoo bottle when you travel? Do you fix household items when they’re broken instead of throwing them away? These are all examples of reusing and your kids can do it too. Talk about why it’s important to get as much use as possible out of their toys and when they’re finished with them, take them with you to donate them to a second-hand store.

A lot of us are already acting in ways that help protect the environment that we may not even be aware of. So take a minute to brainstorm a list of all those actions and think about how you might get your kids involved. Develop creative activities that encourage your kids to be good to the environment and also have fun. For example, you could create a competition within your household to see who can recycle or reduce the most waste or better yet, create the least amount of waste. This challenge could even be expanded to include your neighbors, family, or friends.

You could also come up with a new conservation initiative to do each month, like experimenting with creating your own compost bin, cutting out disposable eating utensils, and trying out the refillable products in the bulk section of your local store - things like soaps, grains, nuts, etc. 

Organize an arts and crafts day where your kids can decorate their reusable materials like their lunch boxes, tote bags, and reusable containers. Adding fun personal details motivates kids to keep and use items for longer.

Getting your kids involved in living a more sustainable life doesn’t have to be a difficult task or a boring one. Whether it’s small changes at home or big changes in the community, inspiring your kids to make a difference in the world around them gives them the confidence to do so. We must instill values in our children that will allow and encourage them to live a healthier and fuller life - reducing, reusing, and recycling are just the beginning.