Ecology for Kids - make environmental action part of kid's daily life

Personally, I feel ecology for kids is the most important aspect of science. The deterioration of the global environmental is a human-caused factor and it is important that we must teach our next generation to preserve whatever remains for them to live in.

Being a parent, we have to be a role model to set the example in ways of how we can preserve our environment. We can take several daily actions as a small step in teaching and impart the knowledge to our kids. Parental involvement with the kids is one of the best learning methods.

Home is where everything begins for me to teach my children……..with ecology activities.

Energy and Water Conservation

Take a simple step by reminding everyone in the household to switch off lights, fans, electronic equipment when it is not in use. This is to form a habit in the long run for the children.

To reinforce this habit, we play a game on “who is the energy monster”. Each person was given 100 points in the beginning of each month. Points will be deducted whoever was caught wasting electricity. The “energy monster” will have to set a goal on what are the actions he needs to take to improve his score.

At the same time, we conduct an energy audit at home at the end of the month by getting the children to read the meter and understand the electricity bill.

Similar activity can be used for teaching water conservation. Here is a list of 110 ways to save water. which I find it very handy and useful.

It helps them to take ownership and see how their little daily action can save the environment.

The Basic 5 R’s philosophy – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew

This basic philosophy is entrenched in my kids. With this basic philosophy, we do not indulge in unnecessary material things to keep up with fashion and trend. My kids do not get new set of school stationery every year like their friends or branded clothes. Not only is this saving the environment but also teaches them to lead a humble basic lifestyle.

I am very passionate about preserving the environment and strongly practice recycling at home; segregating waste into different bins for plastic, paper and glass. My children had learnt a few ways how their action can help in recycling:

- Learn to recognize the different material of their waste to put in the correct bins.
- Used up both side of the writing paper before it is put in recycle bin.
- Request the dad to repair their toys when it spoiled, not to simply throw away and ask for new ones.
- Make craft out from plastic bottle, used paper etc.
- Teach others about preserving the environment. They helped me to draw up some posters for me to use to teach in a children camp.

Paper Recycling Process Poster Drawn by Jolyn

Ecology Trip

Ecology for kids involves parents’ active participation. Even trip and vacation can be a learning lesson for kids.

I make a conscious effort to bring them on a visit to the Penang Reservoir. They learn about the precious water resources, water treatment it goes through before it runs to our home. It was indeed an enriching experience.

A tiresome climb to the source of the water revealed an excellent view of the Penang waterfall cascading down from a few meters in height.

You bet that I will be on the look out for more ecology tour when planning for the next vacation.

Ecology is part of science and I find ecology for kids need to be taught with life science to complement the whole understanding of this subject. Living things and its environment need to co-exist in harmony.

Understand Endangered Marine Life

Ecology for kids include teaching them about endangered species. It is estimated that 30 to 50 percent of all living species may be extinct by the middle of the 21st century. It is disheartening to know how nature environment has been impacted by human unsustainable activities. Even marine life is not spared.

I strongly believe that inculcating the appreciation of nature since young is part of ecology for kids. Children would then grow up to appreciate nature, protect the environment and living species.

With this goal in mind, we made a trip to Pulau Payar, a protected marine conservation park in the northern part of Malaysia. The children had their first real life experience of snorkeling in crystal clear blue sea water. They also had the experience of come in contact with the many beautiful fishes in the sea. The most fascinating experience is to see sharks at such close distant.

In this trip, they learned that in order to protect such beautiful endangered marine life:

- One should never discharge chemical, waste or rubbish into sea.
- Do not eat shark fin (Shark fin is a Chinese delicacy in Asia). Shark is already labeled as one of the endangered marine animals.
- Do not pick any shells and corals from the reef. It will damage the reef. In turn, it affects the environment for the fish to live in.

Save the Sea Turtles

Learning about ecology for kids can come from different sources. In addition to projects and trips, I found an online game that teaches kids about the endangered sea turtles. Keep exposing them to such topics and they will learn the importance of living harmony with animals.

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