Teaching Children About Sustainability
In collaboration with Worcester Bosch
As a child I was constantly reminded of the importance of protecting the environment and saving the planet. Whether I was watching my favorite kids show Captain Planet or I was singing a song in assembly about pollution, the subject of sustainability was regularly on my mind. So you can imagine how excited I was when Worcester Bosch contacted me and asked me to share my thoughts and ideas about teaching children about sustainability.
I was given opportunities to help the environment both at home and at school. My family would often go can collecting and pick up litter to make our part of the village cleaner. I also wrote to local companies asking for funding so my primary school could plant new trees for the future. That was a success and thirty years later, the tree I planted stands tall as a reminder to me of the role I played so long ago.
What Is Sustainability and Why Is It Important?
Contents
Sustainability is the idea that our choices should take into account future generations. By not polluting the earth, we are ensuring that our planet has a chance to survive for another generation.
Whether sustainability means recycling your household waste or planting trees so you can enjoy their shade one day, sustainability is present around us every day.
What Are the Four Factors of Sustainability?
The only way to achieve sustainability in the future is to teach children about sustainability at a young age. Sustainability focuses on four interconnected areas:
- social
- environmental
- economic
- cultural
The sustainability movement calls for a more equitable distribution of resources amongst present and future generations.
Teaching Sustainability to Children
As we teach the next generation the importance of protecting and looking after the environment, we are ensuring the sustainability of our planet for another generation.
One way we can teach preschoolers about sustainability and older children is through stories and today I’m excited to share a fantastic storybook which I discovered called “A Robot Called B4”.
A Robot Called B4
The children’s book “A Robot Called B4” was produced by Worcester Bosch on World Earth Day in 2021. This fantastic book begins when Alfie, a young boy, moves house. Alfie and his friend Ava explore the new garden and discover a robot called B4 who takes the children on an adventure back through time.
Finding themselves in the age of dinosaurs Alfie and Ava notice the beauty of the world, from the lush green land to the beautiful lake, forest and mountains.
Visiting the age of Dinosaurs teaches Alfie and Ava just how beautiful the planet once was and they soon realise that the actions of the past have had a negative impact on the earth.
Upon returning home, Alfie and Ava become eco-warriors. They decide they need to take better care of the planet and discuss ways to do this from recycling, conserving energy and composting.
How Stories Can Help Teach Kids About Sustainability
Stories about protecting the environment such as “A Robot Called B4” are fantastic resources which can help children of all ages to better understand the importance of doing our part to protect the planet and help make it cleaner, greener and healthier.
Worcester Bosch understands the importance of protecting the earth for future generations and that is why they created this book, to help teach children the importance of using the world’s resources wisely and efficiently.
By teaching our future generations the importance of sustainability now, we are working together for a better and brighter future for all.
Children’s Books About Sustainability
As being eco-friendly becomes more and more important in sustainability, it is important to teach the next generation how to live in an environmentally friendly way. Many kids’ books are now being written about sustainability topics to help children learn about sustainability at their own pace.
If you want to teach children about sustainability you might like to read a hard copy of “A Robot Called B4” to the kids. Alternatively you could download a PDF version of this sustainability book for kids or listen to the audio version read by the lovely Angellica Bell.
Sustainability Topics for Kids
If you want to discuss sustainability further with children here are some topics you may wish to discuss.
- Recycling
- Using Renewable Resources
- Pollution
- Conserving Energy
- Planting Trees
- Composting
- Water Conservation
- Maintaining A Clean Environment
Environmental Awareness Activities for Kids
To further extend children’s interests in this book and sustainability story, you could try one of these fun environmental awareness activities as a way of extending learning and teaching kids more about protecting the planet earth.
Make Recycled Dinosaur Crayons – If your child is interested in prehistoric times try this recycled crayon activity with them.
Create A Happy and Sad Earth – Teach the children what makes the earth happy and sad with this fun and simple earth day craft.
Make Monster Planters Using Recycled Bottles – Teach kids to recycle as they craft and show them how to grow and care for plants.
Make Garden Seed Bombs – Garden seed bombs are fun for kids and a great way to introduce kids to composting.
Protect the Environment
Teaching kids to protect the environment is one of the most important things we can do. If we do so from a young age we will be doing our part to help ensure the planet is a beautiful and safe place for generations to come. Reading stories such as “A Robot Called B4” and giving children opportunities to talk about and take part in sustainability activities is one great way to do this!
This is so important to do! I will have to try some of these out with my kids. The book sounds great|!
It is a fun book book to read and yes I agree sustainability is imperative!
I really enjoyed reading this post, it’s so important to teach children about sustainability.
It sure is.
It’s so important to teach this next generation the importance of sustainability and hopefully they will pass it along to the ones after them.
I have a bunch of nephews who would love the books and activities.
I think more now than before we are teaching our kids about this in our daily lives, even from when they are toddling and putting rubbish in the recycling. Stories have always been a great way for them to learn and take things in properly as well
This is really important. The earlier kids learn the more used to it they are and more likely they will continue on into adulthood.
Sustainability is so important, and I wish it is something that I would have learnt about as a child. Our planet needs protecting, and the children, as the people of the future, should have these ideals instilled in them from a young age. The earth day craft is such a great way of teaching kids about the importance of saving the planet!
These handcrafts are so cute, specially the recycled pots with face.
I think this is so important. Kids really do need to learn more about sustainability. Sounds like a wonderful book.
I think it’s more important than ever to be teaching our kids about sustainability. I love doing recycled kids crafts with kids
Teaching children about environment’s care and sustainability is a good initiative for us parents.
I have a degree in environmental education, and this is definitely something that is important to teach our kids!
Yes we need teach the kids to save the environment even when they are small. Sustainability is important
My youngest would love that book. Reminds me a little of a book I used to love as a kid, called “Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish”. There’s no time travel involved, but it’s got a similar message about Earth dying because humans don’t take of it properly.