As mentioned in a previous post, wrapping your child in cotton wool would not benefit them as they grow up. The more you involve them in activities, the better you will prepare your children for the future. How about getting the family together to make compost? Have you ever noticed how happy kids are when they get their hands dirty? At the same time, you could start bringing the importance of sustainable living into conversations. Introduce learning about what’s good for the environment and the planet.
With ongoing health threats, and possible ongoing social distancing, activities with your kids could benefit all. It is an opportunity to get out into the fresh air and sunshine. Just about the biggest benefit is the bonds that form during fun times shared with the kids.
Making compost spurs a love for nature
Depending on your children’s ages, this is an ideal time to get them acquainted with the ideas of conservation and nature without it seeming like a classroom. As the composting process goes on, they’ll see how nature makes soil from organic materials. Furthermore, research supports the idea that the stimulation provided by nature promotes self-confidence, independence and mental growth while instilling a responsible nature.
Compost is a promoter of sustainability
Make sure the kids understand the reasons for making compost. Explain why sustainability is important for your family and how composting makes your household more sustainable. Even without a backyard space, you can get a composting bin to fit under the kitchen sink. That will hold enough compost for potted plants in window boxes.
Composting enriches the soil
If you are a keen composter, you are likely also a gardener. Involve the kids in adding the compost to the soil and create excitement about the bumper crops of vegetables, fruit and flowers expected for the next season. From composting to putting healthy produce on their plates, the entire process is invaluable for kids understanding where food comes from. Furthermore, they will know good, healthy produce from the modern genetically modified crops that only look like the real thing but have no taste.
When did you learn about nature’s carbon cycle?
Imagine the advantage your children will have if they know how insects like earthworms ingest and decompose food because they observed it all and learned about the carbon cycle at a young age. What makes this experience even more valuable as they grow up would be memories of the precious family time that made it possible.
