FAMILY: How can my kids see me as an eco-hero?

A tactic for picky eaters, kids’ slang, ‘mud season’ hikes, an Earth Day personality quiz

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April 18, 2021 2:19pm

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THE BIG QUESTION:

HOW CAN MY KIDS SEE ME AS AN ECO HERO?

Sunday, April 18, 2021

PHOTOGRAPH BY VIAFILMS / GETTY IMAGES

By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief

We didn’t have a swear jar when I was a kid. We had a turn-out-the-lights jar. As in, if you left a room without turning out the lights, you had to put a quarter in the jar.

That lasted, oh, about a month. It’s not that my family didn’t love the Earth. But back then, turning out the lights was more about “not wasting electricity” than decreasing CO2 emissions; and though recycling was indeed nice for the environment, it was also nice for my piggy bank, since I got cash after my parents drove me and my aluminum cans to the local processing plant.

Things are different today. Even though Thursday is Earth Day, I like to say that every day is Earth Day for kids. It seems like since before they could walk (sippy cups count as reusable bottles, right?), children have been giving us the side-eye for tossing recyclables in the garbage bin or freaking out when we buy something wrapped in too much plastic. And don’t get me started about protecting wildlife. (But here are some ideas they might not have thought about.)

Let’s face it: Adulting and supporting your kid’s eco-consciousness don’t always go hand-in-hand. Electric cars and solar panels are out of reach for many families, and this past year has pretty much necessitated an increase in online shopping. (This article gives some helpful tips for greening your stay-at-home routine.) And, you know, paper straws are kinda gross.

But when families protect the Earth together, you’re showing kids that something important to them is also important to you. And that can be empowering—and impactful. “When we as a family talk about problems in the world, we talk about what we can do to solve them,” says environmental engineer and National Geographic Explorer Jenna Jambeck in this Q&A about raising eco-stewards. “I try to model optimism for [my children].”

That could be as easy as reducing your plastic waste by eating ice cream on a cone during family outings (instead of in a cup with a plastic spoon), or something more time-consuming like conducting a trash audit with kids to understand your family’s consumption. As many of us are starting to think about small family gatherings, we can also be thinking about throwing zero-waste parties. You can also attend this virtual Nat Geo Earth Day Eve event as a family.

But most importantly, give yourself a break. “We’re certainly not perfect, and I want other parents to be OK with that, too,” Jambeck says. “Even though this is what I research, we can’t do everything. I travel a lot, we’re busy, and my kids just really love those store-bought peanut butter crackers.”

Looks like you can be an everyday Earth hero to your kids—and still snack on those plastic-wrapped peanut butter crackers.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PHOTOGRAPH BY VERNON WILEY, GETTY IMAGES

Trust us: Your kids will love it. It’s spring, or “mud season” to some, a time when many trails turn to muck. While the winter thaw may be a welcome sight for children, as well as a great way to get them outside exploring again, the shift in the ground can create hazards that little hikers—and their parents—should watch out for. This Nat Geo article provides advice on how to do mud-hiking right.

OMG, what’s up with my kid’s slang? Turns out, a lot of good stuff. New research shows that students who have lively slang habits—especially if they’re incorporated into school curriculum—tend to be more flexible in engaging with the world around them. And that can help improve reading comprehension, empathy, and even lie detection. “Kids are playful with language, they love language, they’re creative with language,” says Christine Mallinson, a linguist at the University of Maryland. “And allowing kids that linguistic creativity and outlet is good for their wellbeing—it's a way for them to connect with others.” Read this article to learn more about how those words that might be driving you crazy could actually be fostering a more creative, critically aware child.

KEEPING YOU HEALTHY

PHOTOGRAPH BY INTI ST. CLAIR / GETTY IMAGES

Parents of picky eaters, rejoice! Maybe if my sister had to pick her own green beans, she’d be eating them today. Because according to experts, the age-old practice of foraging for food can help those nose scrunchers be more invested in what they eat. The best part? Foraging can also help them connect with nature. “Having a strong connection to the land means you’re more likely to protect it. And you can’t get much more connected to the land than eating from it,” says Dave Hamilton, author of Family Foraging. “There’s something empowering about finding your own food, especially for kids.” Get started with these easy tips for finding your own food in nature.

Family discussion: Can an ordinary person discover a new species? The answer, as shown this week, is yes. Sheryl Holliday was photographing blooming purple orchids in Australia when she saw something darting out of the frame. She posted an image on Facebook, and gave samples of it to an arachnologist. Holliday had found a new species of a peacock spider, known for jumping around and its lively colors. Your kids might be amused at what they called it (photos here, too).

TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAYTON HANMER

Like I said ... every day is Earth Day for kids. But we still want to share some fun ideas to help them celebrate Thursday. Start with this personality quiz to find out which kind of planet protector they are, then take them on a fun, imaginative tour of a recycling center. (Yeah, yeah, we know that the octopus doesn't use its eight arms to sort garbage.) Show them these kid-friendly explainers on the science behind climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and declining biodiversity, then empower them to find solutions with our eco tips. Check out stunning photos of endangered animals in the special Earth Day edition of Photo Ark, a picture book for kids from Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore and Newbery award-winning author Kwame Alexander. Kids can even get crafty with ideas from our Kids vs. Plastic video series or go to our Save the Earth hub for more!

More Earth Day goodness. Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with National Geographic Education’s guide to take learners on a virtual ocean exploration! Dive into Explorer Classroom sessions, videos, Kahoot! Games, book lists, online courses, and much more with this 10-page overview of resources. Equip learners to take action at home, school, or in the community while focusing on the needs of our planet this Earth Day and beyond.

This newsletter was edited and curated by Rachel Buchholz, with David Beard and Monica Williams. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead!

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