Simple ways to teach environmental responsibility in the daycare and preschool setting
As I was working on a recycling preschool lesson plan for preschool aged kids, it got me thinking about some environmentally friendly things that preschool teachers and daycare providers can incorporate into their programs, curriculum, activities or atmosphere. I've been reading about organic preschools, such as Le Petit Paradise in Manhattan, and I'm blown away by how people, businesses, and young children are taking the intiative to care for our earth.
Right now the trendy thing to do is to “go green”, but it’s much more than a trend in my eyes. Learning about and getting in the habit of considering the environment and its precious resources is a lifestyle worth examining and something that children should participate in early on.
Some simple things early childhood educators can do in their classrooms with kids:
- Grow an organic garden and/or trees
- Teach the children about recycling and practice it in the classroom everyday
- Serve items with organically grown ingredients for lunch and snack
- Use recycled materials for crafts
- Use nontoxic cleaning products and recycled paper products like toilet paper and paper towels
In the classroom, you can start with simple steps and behaviors and know that you are planting the seeds of change.
