It's Electric: Teaching Your Child About Saving Energy

There are plenty of books, websites, and news articles dedicated to "going green.

" There's just one problem: they're written for adults. As a parent, it's important to teach your child about what it means to live a greener, more eco-friendly lifestyle. It can be challenging, however, to find resources that explain exactly how to accomplish this. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that any parent can teach a child about saving energy.

Whether your child is five years old and just learning about electricity or your child is 17 and learning to drive a vehicle, there are plenty of ways you can show your child just what it means to live an eco-friendly life. First off, always remember to lead by example.
While you can explain your views and opinions to your child, your actions really do speak louder than your words.

Instead of simply telling your child, "It's important to save the planet," take the steps you need to demonstrate how invaluable this really is.
For example, chances are that your child knows you need to turn off your lights when you aren't using them.
Why not demonstrate this on a regular basis? Make turning off the lights a habit when you leave the room. Your child will quickly pick up on this and begin to follow suit, thus minimizing your family's energy usage.
Consider reading stories with your child about families who used less energy.
Pick up some green living story books at your local library or bookstore to read together. You could also read historical fiction with your child in order to demonstrate how people used to live before electricity was invented.
Reading about children from the 1800s or before is a great way to introduce historical concepts to your child, but it's also a fantastic way to show your child just how possible it really is to live without using a lot of energy. Another way you can demonstrate the importance of living a green lifestyle is through your shopping choices.
Do you tend to discard plastic bags from the store? Do you find yourself throwing away more packing material than you ought to be? Consider using reusable grocery bags instead of opting for disposable bags.
Even paper bags take oil to produce and can be harmful to the environment.
Opt for a reusable cloth bag instead that you can use again and again. When you do shop with your child, also make a point to choose products that have little or no packaging.

Even a little bit of plastic can have a harmful effect on our planet's delicate ecosystem.

Finally, make sure you talk about the importance of preserving the planet for future use.

While your child likely understands that green living is important, actually putting into words just how much our decisions affect future generations can make a huge impact in the way your child views the world around him. Remind him that his generation truly matters and can make a difference in the world.
He just has to take it one day at a time.