How to teach children to recycle garbage

If we want to teach a child how to recycle garbage, the first thing we have to do is make them understand why it is important that they recycle. To do this, it is best to explain to them that the products they use in their daily lives are manufactured from raw materials that are taken from nature, a process that has an impact on it, which leads to the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity in many cases.

However, as garbage can be recycled, this reduces the raw material taken from nature , which prevents many ecosystems and animal and plant species from being affected. In this way, the child will understand that the action of recycling has a direct impact on something specific such as nature, which will provide the necessary motivation to carry it out.

In the following article you will see what are the benefits of recycling .

Once children are familiar with the concept of recycling and its positive impact on the environment, a suitable way to teach them to recycle is to make a picture-based flowchart that associates the type of garbage with the type of bin. This work is simple, and can be carried out as a simple hobby between parents and children. To do this, it will be enough to divide a sheet into different columns. In the upper part the child will be asked to draw the different types of garbage , and in the lower part a container or garbage can that will be colored in the corresponding color according to the type of recycling to which it belongs.

This exercise is simple, but very illustrative, and will help the child become familiar with the different garbage cans that are at home. Also, once the flowchart is drawn and colored, it can be put in the kitchen where the child can easily see it. In this way, it will be a “ recycling guide ” made by the little ones in the house for their own use, which will help to further encourage motivation for recycling.

Another important aspect that can be useful for children to learn the importance of recycling is taking the garbage to the containers. Traditionally, “taking out the garbage” is associated with one of the most tedious and boring household chores. Naturally, you cannot pretend that this activity is a hobby in itself, but it can be carried out with a special motivation when thinking about the impact it has on the environment.

For this, it is good that, at least from time to time, children accompany their parents to throw away the garbage , especially when it is going to take it to different recycling containers and when it goes to a clean point. These tasks that, a priori, may seem everyday and of little value, are completely new for many children. In fact, the best way for the child to really understand what it means to “separate” the waste beyond the buckets that are usually placed in kitchens, is to see how, indeed, the waste is separated when we dispose of it for the last time in containers and clean points.

In addition, it must also be taken into account that children learn both with the theory that adults teach them and by imitation. In this way, an example is worth a thousand words and, when this example becomes an everyday action such as eating, showering or making the bed, it is when the child is really going to internalize recycling as a positive and natural element. of your daily routine.

We recommend this other post on How to recycle garbage at home . In addition, here below you can see a video that will help you and the little ones in your house to learn about some of the most frequent mistakes when recycling in order to avoid them easily.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to teach children to recycle garbage , we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category .