Many children spend time in kindergarten or at a very early age and then soon afterward in school and in clubs. Daycare centers and kindergartens in particular offer children the opportunity to get in touch with the environment and the topic of environmental protection at an early stage. It is important to involve the children and parents in planned projects at an early stage.
Tips on how environmental protection can be integrated
Collecting garbage
In one week, collect all the garbage in your facility. Talk to the children about why this garbage was generated and look for solutions together on how it could be reduced. At school, for example, by having students take reusable lunch boxes with them instead of plastic bags.
Book selection
There are now a lot of good books on the subject of environmental protection and sustainability, also for children. Organize a few of these for your facility. Children learn so much from books.
Project week
Organize a project week in your facility. Bring interested colleagues or parents with you and plan projects related to environmental protection. Maybe you plan the week directly with the children. Some children may already bring ideas on the subject with them from home.
Be creative
Together with the children, make oilcloths for storing food, maybe even as a present for the parents. Sew cotton bags with them. Playdough, watercolors, and salt dough are things that you can make with the children in kindergarten with just a few ingredients. Many products bought, especially modeling clay, often contain harmful substances and are lavishly packaged. Talk to the children directly about why you are making things yourself.
Upcycling
Together with the children, think about why things that actually end up in the trash could still be used. For example, fabrics can be colored with fruit and vegetable bowls. Toilet paper rolls can be used for handicrafts. Always take some time to explain to the children why it is so important to continue using things that have been produced.
Excursions
If you have the opportunity, use your travel backpack and take the children on excursions, depending on their age – for example in the forest, to a recycling plant, or to a farm. On farms, the children learn where milk and meat come from.
