How to Seamlessly Introduce Your Kids to Zero Waste Living 

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As we hear more and more about climate change it makes sense that many parents and caretakers are trying to find ways to teach sustainability to our kids. They will be inheriting the earth so we should equip them with the skills necessary to take care of it, right?! 

We all know that kids learn by seeing what their caretakers do or as the saying goes “everything you do teaches” (-unknown). So just by you living a zero waste lifestyle, your kids will pick up on it too! 

But if you are looking for more ways to inspire your children to live more sustainably, this post will help with that! It will include 5 simple tips to make zero waste living a part of your family’s daily life and teach kids why eco friendly choices are so important. 

Even just trying out one of the tips on this list is a great place to start and you never know how it will inspire your kids to care more about the earth! 

This post is all about how to be zero waste with kids.

How do you teach kids about zero waste?

1. Slowly transition your current habits to more sustainable ones.
2. Make sustainable living fun with hands-on activities and crafts. 
3. Establish your own eco-friendly habits and your kids will naturally follow you. 
4. Explain that we can’t be perfect at zero waste living but we can each do our best to help the earth. 

The best tips for teaching kids how to take of the planet.

1. Do a fun zero waste hands-on activity to learn about sustainability

 With a little bit of creativity, you would be amazed at what you and your kids can create with items from your recycling bin. 

I used to work at a children’s museum and they had an ongoing exhibit that was 100% recycled material for art! You could even set up a mini version of this in your kid’s playroom or under their desk where you put clean recyclable materials that they can add to their creations during free play. 

Here are some materials to keep an eye out for and save for zero waste crafts before they end up in your blue bin:

• Newspaper 
• Egg cartons 
• Toilet paper rolls 
• Plastic bottles (shampoo bottles, drink bottles etc.) 
• Cardboard boxes 

2. Go trash hunting to show where waste ends up

Grab some gloves and a bag and head outside to pick up trash in your neighborhood, beach or park. 

Not only is this a great way to teach kids about community service, but it also shows them where all of the trash we create can sadly end up.

Explaining that sometimes animals will eat the trash or it can flow into waterways and end up in the ocean is a great way to incorporate more of a “lesson” to the activity too. 

3. Teach kids about sustainability through reading and a fun trip to the public library

Take a weekend field trip to your local library to find books about:

• Sustainability 
• Climate change 
• Animals’ ecosystems 
• Farming
• How different cultures navigated their ecosystems in the past

All of these topics may not be specifically zero waste but they start to get kids’ gears turning about how the waste we create impacts our ecosystem overall. 

Also, borrowing books rather than purchasing is a great way to minimize waste. Instead of buying new we can just borrow from the library (or friends/family too!). The less resources we use the better it is for the environment. 

4. Prioritize zero waste gifts for kids for birthdays and holidays

Try introducing new habits during an exciting time like birthdays or holidays. It does not have to be a complete overhaul but incorporating more low-waste gifts can make a big impact overall. 

Even when you shop with your kids for gifts for others, teach them about different gifts that are less wasteful once the recipient is done using them. 

Some great zero waste gifts for kids: 

• Experiences ex. Picnic with their favorite foods, gardening kit, trip to amusement parks, kayaking/yoga class/painting class etc. 
• Gifts made from natural materials like bamboo, sustainably sourced wood, silicone, post-consumer plastic etc. 
• Homemade gifts made with minimal plastic 
• Practical gifts that they will get a lot of use out of ex. New school backpack or water bottle, thrifted sports gear, redo their room (using thrifted furniture or repurposed furniture by updating it with paint) 

{RECOMMENDED POST: Your Go-to Guide For The Best Low Waste Holiday Gifts (Inspired By The 5 Love Languages!)}

5. Reduce waste in their lunch box and pack a plastic-free lunch

Start with food! Everyone loves food.

Packing their lunch plastic-free will be a daily reminder that they don’t need packaging to have a yummy lunch. If they are old enough, have them help pack their lunch too so they can learn how to prepare their meals with minimal waste! 

These are some of my favorite zero waste containers for packing lunches: 

• Stasher bags Silicone reusable bags
• Hydroflask reusable water bottle
• Rainbow reusable cutlery 
• Ukonserve stainless steel and silicone containers  

{RECCOMENDED POST: Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Grocery Shopping}

Bonus tip: Spend as much time outside as possible

Start a connection with your kids and the outdoors as early as you can. If you don’t live in a place with a ton of greenery, make park trips, camping trips, and beach days a priority for school breaks if you are able to! 

When kids recognize that a major source of their fun is derived from their time outdoors they will feel a closer connection to it as they get older, thus feeling more compelled to protect it! 

Have you found ways to introduce eco-friendly living to your kids? Let us know in the comments below! It can help other families and caregivers as we all figure out how to teach sustainable living to kids. 

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Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best tips for teaching your kids to be zero waste.

Other posts you may like: 

• How to Support Yourself When You Are Dealing With Eco Anxiety | 5 Simple Tips
• The 5 Best Sustainable Notebooks For School, Work and Journaling
• 12 Zero Waste Beach Essentials That are Kind to the Ocean

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