12 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Change the World

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Recently, my daughter saw a kitten named Jojo on an adoption site. She looked at the little ginger kitty with one eye and asked, “Can we adopt her?” I thought of all the feeding, litter disposal, and the infamous entitled attitude of most felines and immediately shut down the idea. Thinking back on it, she was coming from a place of altruism and wanting to better the world in a small way, so maybe I should have entertained the idea.

How can we teach kids like her and others to make the world a better place? It all starts with small, everyday actions that instill a sense of responsibility and empathy. There are enough chances to inspire your kids to create positive impacts right in their backyards and beyond.

Here are a few of the countless ways to get your kids involved in making the world a better place.

1. Start a Recycling Project at Home or School

Charity begins at home, but so does the habit of not littering. One of the simplest lessons is showing kids how they can reduce waste and save resources. What if you set up separate bins for paper, plastics, and glass and encouraged them to sort out the recyclables themselves?

You could even make it more fun by going a step further and finding projects that breathe new life into items that would otherwise be discarded or recycled. Think customized CD cup coasters, milk jug planters, or crafting an apron out of t-shirts they’ve outgrown.

2. Participate in Local Clean-Up Days

Get your kids’ hands dirty (in a good way) by joining local clean-up events. It can be beach, park, or neighborhood clean-up, but no matter the place these activities show kids the direct impact of their efforts in making a change.

Give them gloves and trash bags, and turn it into a fun game to see who can gather the most litter. Afterward, you can have a little picnic and talk about why keeping our environment clean is important.

3. Write Letters or Draw Cards for Seniors

You can never go wrong with kindness. Help them develop a kind heart by having them write letters or draw cards for seniors in nursing homes. This simple yet heartfelt gesture can brighten someone’s day and teach kids about empathy.

You can even make it a regular activity, creating a pen-pal system where kids and seniors exchange letters regularly. This will definitely cultivate a sense of community and ongoing connection.

4. Plant Trees or Start a Garden

Homesteading is trending for a reason: introduce your kids to the joys of gardening and the environmental benefits of gardening. You can choose native plants or trees that thrive in your local climate and teach your kids how to care for them.

This hands-on activity can spark a lifelong love for nature and a deeper understanding of the Earth’s ecosystems. Starting a garden at home or school can also be a fun way to teach kids that eggplants don’t produce eggs and make them feel more involved with the food they’re consuming.

5. Create “Kindness Rocks”

Not everyone receives a post-it note in their lunch box, making it a great opportunity to spread positivity by painting “kindness rocks” with your kids. These are small rocks painted with uplifting messages or quotes, which are then hidden around the community for others to find.

It’s a creative way to teach kids about spreading joy in unexpected places. You can also get a bit of exercise when you walk around your neighborhood, local park, or nature trail to hide the rocks.

6. Organize a Toy or Book Drive

Spreading joy through books is a wonderful way to change the world one story at a time. Encourage your kids to gather toys or books they no longer use and organize a drive to donate them to children in need.

This activity teaches kids to appreciate what they have. You can work with local shelters, hospitals, or schools to ensure the donations reach those who need them most.

7. Hold a Bake Sale for a Cause

Hold a bake sale for a good cause to combine the fun of baking with the joy of giving. Choose a charity or cause that resonates with your family, and bake up a storm with your kids.

Sell the treats to friends, neighbors, or at community events and donate the proceeds. This can be a great opportunity to teach your kids about entrepreneurship and financial responsibility.

8. Make Reusable Bags and Say No to Plastic

We’re using about 5 trillion plastic bags per year as a global community. That’s an awful lot of plastic, and it’s terrible for our planet, especially the oceans. You can save the planet in a small way by simply making reusable shopping bags out of materials you already have.

Use old t-shirts or fabric scraps to create unique, eco-friendly bags. This crafty activity not only reduces waste but also teaches kids about the importance of sustainable living.

9. Create a Bird Feeder or Insect Habitat

There are days when the weather is dry, and there’s little food and water for the birds. Help your kids connect with nature by building bird feeders or insect habitats.

Using recycled materials to make bird feeders or homes for beneficial insects like bees and butterflies teaches kids about wildlife conservation and biodiversity. You will soon enjoy some chirping and buzzing in your backyard, creating an opportunity to learn more about our beautiful world.

10. Start a “Thank You” Campaign for Essential Workers

A little gratitude goes a long way, especially for essential workers who have to work even when they’d rather be sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere. Start a “Thank You” campaign to show appreciation for the workers who keep our community running smoothly.

Get your kids to whip up some thank-you cards or posters for our superhero squad: healthcare workers, teachers, firefighters, and all essential personnel. It’s a crafty way to teach gratitude and remind them that it takes a village to keep our communities intact.

11. Set Up a Water-Saving Challenge

Instead of yelling yourself sore when the taps are left running, teach your kids the importance of water conservation by setting up a water-saving challenge at home. Track your family’s water usage and set goals to reduce it.

Simple actions like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and using a rain barrel for gardening can make a big difference. You can make the challenge fun by offering rewards for meeting water-saving goals.

12. Start a Compost Bin

All those lonely peas left on the plate add up to food waste. How about starting a compost bin to reduce food waste and enrich your garden?

Get your kids involved in gathering kitchen scraps and yard waste, and show them how composting transforms organic material into nutrient-rich soil. You can even farm some worms for the gardens with the kids– I bet they’ll love that.

Source

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