Green kids

Not long ago I picked up a WWF postcard to join their campaign in the run up to the Climate summit in Copenhagen urging politicians to get their act together. On the front of the postcard was a polar bear floating on not very much ice. My 5-year-old daughter spotted the card and in her usual inquisitive manner asked what it was. Now until then I had never really attempted to explain being green, climate change or anything else of that sort to her, she is only 5 after all, but somehow that day I launched myself into it with some assistance from my husband.

I can't remember the exact words we used, I mainly remember half way through thinking that this was a very bad idea indeed - but it turns out that it was in fact a good idea. Somehow she managed to make the connection from our garbling that leaving the lights switched on is one of the reasons polar bears and penguins have less ice to live on. We didn't go into details about sea levels rising and other scary stuff, but she really connected with this thing about polar bears. Never ever underestimate your kids, they understand a lot more than we give them credit for! She is now really good at switching lights off and she doesn't question why, in fact if I occasionally have to remind her, she goes 'oh yeah - the polar bears - sorry'.


This has made me realise that maybe the most important thing about this whole green project is to make it a natural part of my children's lives, they are a lot more adaptable than adults and after all this is all about their future. If I can get them used to not consuming in the same excessive ways as my own generation, they will be a lot better off on many levels. The thing is if global warming or the lack of oil has completely changed our planet and lives in 30 years time, they will be wondering why we didn't do anything and I would like to be able to look them in the eyes and say 'I really did try my best' (still has a bit to go though before I can say that, I don't think driving the car and having long meditative showers count in 'trying my best'...)

Having said that maybe the best thing would be to just start listening to the kids and see things from their perspective. I have two very smart and funny nephews in America aged 5 and 8 and they (with possibly a bit of help from dad) sent me an e-mail with some advice to all the kids wanting to be green. I simply had to pass it on, so here is what the e-mail said:

Our dad told us about how you are writing about trying to be green and how difficult and frustrating it can be. Since it is our future at stake and since we have spent years doing green things, we would like to submit “The kids guide to being green, lazy and out of money.” These are proven techniques that anyone (but kids in particular) can implement. We just think adults are too limited in their thinking to see the obvious possibilities. And, unlike most of the things you have tried, they are not only energy/water savers and reduce carbon emissions but they also save money and time.

So, we don’t think that this should be left up to the grown-ups. We want to get the kids involved and as we said – we have proven and tested easy things kids can start doing right away (if they are not doing it already).

1) You tried turning down the water temperature and taking short showers. We say skip the bath all together and we have made this argument to our parent for years. No water wasted. No energy used. More time for important stuff like playing.

2) When going to the bathroom, don’t flush at all. Sure your parents will eventually notice and make you flush, but by then you will have saved a lot of flushes, not to mention a lot of time.

3) Skip washing your hands. We have found this to be a major water and time saver. Quick tip to the kids reading this: we recommend washing your hands every once in a while. This way your parents will think you are doing it all the time and won’t check. In other words, a small sacrifice in order to achieve big water and energy savings.

4) Pick a favorite outfit and insist on wearing it everyday (dark colors are best, but we will get to that in a moment). Think about it. No laundry means water saved, energy saved, time saved and no detergent getting released into the lakes and rivers. Considering how much our parents complain about doing the laundry, you would think this would be a no-brainer.

5) Whether your parents use paper or cloth napkins, they either waste trees and water or they require washing. We say use your sleeve or pants. Either you will save a few trees or, by eliminating the cloth napkin, you cut down on the laundry (especially if your parents insist on washing you cloths anyway). This is also why dark colors are best because your parents are less likely to notice ketchup and jam stains. In a pinch you can use a pillow but use the backside. Otherwise your parent will insist on that water and energy wasting habit of washing them.

6) Do your homework while watching TV. That way the lights only have to be on in a single room. If you sit close enough to the TV you don’t even have to have any lights turned on.

7) Eat only pizza, Mac & Cheese, and cereal. No planning required (time saver). Few trips to the store (energy and time saver). No wasted food (you said yourself that this is important).

Feel free to pass these ideas on to any and all kids you know. And good luck.

What can I say but 'well done guys', it is good to know that the future of the Planet is in safe hands!