As parents, we have the responsibility of ensuring we play our role in taking care of the planet for future generations. This responsibility extends into teaching our children about the environment and modeling good behavior when it comes to being as eco-friendly as possible. For example, in addition to recycling or reducing your carbon footprint by walking more often, you should take it upon yourself to make your home as eco-friendly as possible.
With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can begin to make your home more eco-friendly.
Be resourceful. Too often, we waste not only important resources but also money purchasing items from stores that we could easily make at home, using items we already have lying around or in our cupboards. For example, you can keep your children entertained for hours by making recycled crayons or organic face paint. Alternatively, you can make excellent cleaning products from baking powder and lemon juice instead of using cleaning products sold in stores (which contain unnecessarily harsh chemicals).
To put it simply, you can make your home more eco-friendly by simply being more resourceful. Before you throw something away (or recycle it), try to think carefully about whether or not it could be used elsewhere or upcycled. Upcycling is a great way to breathe new life into pre-loved items – and could even be a great way to earn some extra income if you’re a DIY whiz. For example, you could upcycle old pieces of furniture and sell them online on pages such as Etsy or Facebook Marketplace.
Reduce waste. Another way to make your home more eco-friendly is by finding a way to reduce the amount of waste you produce. One way in which you can
reduce waste is by simply encouraging your children to be more mindful of what they are throwing away or if they are using too much of certain items. For example, if they are participating in arts and crafts, they could draw on both sides of the paper instead of just one. Alternatively, old homework that they no longer need to hold onto doesn’t need to be thrown away (even if they got a bad mark) – instead, you could tear it up and add it to your compost. Composting (with or without their dreaded maths homework) is a great way to dispose of food waste, which would otherwise make up the vast proportion of your residential waste and end up rotting in an overcrowded landfill site. Even better, compost can be used within your garden to help plants, flowers, and fruit and veg thrive!
You can also reduce waste by making an effort to lower your home’s energy and water usage. For example, you should ensure that your children do not run the tap for the entire time that they are brushing their teeth – but only when they need to rinse. While this may not seem that important, teaching them to conserve water early on means they are more likely to continue these behaviors into adulthood – one day teaching their own children to do the same.
Purchase eco-friendly products. Sometimes, eco-friendly items are a little more expensive than their mass-produced counterparts – but they are definitely worth the investment. Not only are they kinder to the planet, they tend to have a much longer life, meaning you can use them for years to come. For example, instead of purchasing a cheap mattress for your child’s crib – you should look into an organic crib mattress. why buy an organic crib mattress? Not only are they made from ethically sourced and sustainable materials, they are also incredibly comfortable and durable – providing your little ones with the support they need to get a good night’s sleep.
Furthemore, you can protect the environment by purchasing second-hand items for your home instead of buying brand-new items from stores. For example, shopping for new furniture at your local charity store is a great way to ensure your money is being put to good use while reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites across the country. Furthemore, so long as you take your time to really look through different shops, there are plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered and taken home. You should also make an effort to donate any of your old belongings – from furniture to clothes and books – to charity stores whenever you have the chance. Furthemore, purchasing second-hand items is a great way to save money – as you can often get similar items for a fraction of their original price.
Focus on energy efficiency. Another way in which you can set a great example for your children (and make your home a little kinder to the planet) is by ensuring that you rely on
green energy sources. For example, you could work with a company that generates power through wind turbines or install a solar panel on your home. You should also try to make sure that your home is energy efficient – which can be achieved by installing double-glazed windows or additional installation into your home – focusing on areas where heat escapes quickly, such as your attic or basement.
Make the environment part of your everyday discussions. Children often emulate the conversations they have with their parents elsewhere or take their teachings to heart. Therefore, you can ensure that your child is eco-conscious from an early age by ensuring that the environment is part of your daily discussion. While this doesn’t mean that you need to start sharing climate change statistics with them, you should talk about what is happening to the planet in simpler terms and talk about what we can do to help. Having these conversations at home also gives your child the chance to ask any questions that they might have.
In short, there are various ways in which you could go about making your home more eco-friendly – many of which revolve around setting an example for your children and being a little more mindful when buying new furniture or household items.
