Teach kids to make the world a greener place

The Jacobs family does lots of things together to make the Earth a cleaner place — and that’s the way young Montague Jacobs likes it. 

“We do things that I can do that are good for us,” he says proudly, as he drops carrot seeds into holes his mother, Cristiana, has started for him. Wise words for a boy who will turn 6 in June. With that wisdom in mind, here are 10 ways your children — from toddlers to teens — can make the world a greener place. 

1 Grow a garden. The Jacobs family — Cristiana, Jonathan and Montague — has turned the backyard of their home into a cornucopia. The threesome planted watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, carrots and other veggies, plus an array of herbs. “We feel like it’s important for Montague to understand where his food comes from,” Cristiana says. 

2Get outside. With kids more hooked into Nintendos than nature these days, “we’re seeing a problem of ‘nature deficit,’ which speaks to the growing disconnect between children and nature,” says Paco Felicio, a spokesman for the Nature Conservancy of Texas. “Our recommendation is for parents to get children outside as much as possible and to start making those connections if they want their kids to care.” 

3Recycle. Let your child decorate a cardboard box and be in charge of collecting newspapers and magazines for home recycling. 

4Turn it off! Even the youngest of environmentalists can switch off a light. Help kids remember with this craft activity: Have your child trace his or her hand on a sheet of green construction paper, cut it out and decorate it with Earth-friendly messages and images. Then tack it on the wall beside the light switches. 

5Green bag it. Packing a school lunch? Take a tip from the Jacobs family and tuck that PB&J into a reusable container instead of a plastic bag. Top off with a cloth napkin. 

6Cook it yourself. Skip prepackaged foods. They’re rarely healthful, and they add unnecessary waste to your family’s trash. And, as Jonathan Jacobs points out, food preparation can be viewed as time spent together. Jacobs uses bounty from the family garden to whip up lemongrass tea, fresh pesto or salsa. And Montague helps out, learning culinary skills and spending time with Dad. 

7Fashion forward. Set up a clothing-share group with friends to reuse items your child has outgrown. Ditto toys and books. It’s economically and ecologically sound. 

8Compost. If you have room for it in your backyard, set up a small compost pile and let your children tend it. They can put the eggshells, banana peels and other organic waste on the pile, turn it and then use it in the garden. 

9Water wisdom. Teach your child about water conservation by not wasting even a drop. Set a jar on the kitchen counter and pour all your half-empty glasses of water into it after dinner. Then, use it in your garden to water plants or rinse muddy hands. 

10Get crafty. Egg cartons, wrapping paper, brown paper sacks, scraps of wax paper, stubby pencils — all of these items are manna for a crafty kid. Set up a monthly craft day and invite friends over. See what you can make using household items that were destined for the landfill.