How you can fight climate change at home

One of the greatest challenges we’re facing today is climate change. Taking care of our planet involves each and every one of us, and the sooner we start incorporating cleaner habits, the better. At Papumba, we aim to do just that: help you raise eco-conscious kiddos.

UNESCO has declared that environmental education must be a core curriculum component by 2025. According to this recent article, “There is a continued focus on learning about climate and other environmental issues, as opposed to also developing the socio-emotional and action competences central for environmental and climate action”.

We’d argue that while schools will play a key role in this regard, the involvement of families is also necessary. As their natural role models, parents have a responsibility to instill a love of the environment and the importance of caring for it in their children as early as possible.

Where to start?

With ever-growing challenges and eco-anxiety on the rise, it’s normal to feel powerless as a parent about what your role is in all of this. But awareness is key, and all it takes to start leading a more eco-friendly family life are baby steps!

Here are three ways you can teach your little ones about the environment:

1.Plan nature activities

Interacting with nature helps children understand just how important it is to care for our planet, and it’s good for their health as well.

Go to a nearby park and bike with them, or plan a family trip to a farm, a botanical garden or even a national park to get them more involved with their environment!

Above all, spending time in nature can help children learn about the natural world and develop a deeper understanding of the environment.

2. Create sustainable habits at home

Children are led by example, so it’s important to show them just how engaged you are with this problem. Make sure no unnecessary lights are left on, and turn off any faucets when they’re not being used.

Here are some other actions you can take:

• Reduce or eliminate single-use plastic.
• Remember to always recycle at home (if you can also compost, even better).
• Carry reusable water bottles and bags (tip: you can keep some stowed in your car, just in case!).
• Eat locally sourced and seasonal foods (check out this page to find out more).
• Join cleanup events held at your local beaches or parks to set good examples for your kids.

Above all, spending time in nature can help children learn about the natural world and develop a deeper understanding of the environment.

3. Don’t shy away from difficult conversations about the environment

As we all know, parents have the ability to shape their child's beliefs and values. By teaching your child about important topics such as the importance of being environmentally conscious or the value of treating others with respect, you can help them develop the skills and values they need to become a responsible and compassionate adult.

Don’t know where to start? Luckily for you, you can spark family conversations about the importance of taking care of the environment with a little help from Papumba. Keep reading for a few ideas!

• Save the Oceans: educational game

When thinking about how we could include environmentalism in our in-app curricula, we were sure that this was an opportunity to knock it out of the park. Then we came across the global NGO World Animal Protection and their cause, and after meeting them, we knew we had struck gold.

Together, we created the educational game Save the Oceans to raise awareness about the importance of keeping our oceans free of waste to protect all marine life.

In this game, joined by our main character Lio, your little ones are tasked with cleaning plastic waste from the ocean and saving animals that have been negatively impacted by pollution. Dolphins affected by oil spills are cleaned, turtles are freed from plastic six-pack rings, and so on.

This immersive experience not only gives your little ones a first glimpse of the need to care for our planet and its animals, but because children are naturally curious, it can also spark meaningful conversations within your family about the planet and climate change.

In addition, this learning experience can help children develop empathy and understanding, as it encourages them to put themselves in the shoes of others, including animals, and to think about how their actions can impact the environment.

?? After your kiddo has played the game, take a few minutes to chat with them about their experience.

• How did they feel about helping animals in need?
• How does seeing all that trash in the ocean make them feel?
• What solutions to this waste problem can they come up with on their own? Let their imagination run free!
• What other things do they think could help the animals and the planet?

• Role models: your best allies!

Positive role models can help inspire your children to take better care of our planet. Our podcast channel “Brave Stories” aims to present little ones with the stories of people who’ve changed the world, either on a big scale or a smaller one.

These 5-minute stories can provide extraordinary examples for your kids to follow. Listen along with them to the stories of Greta Thunberg, a young Swedish climate activist, and Wangari Maathai, a famous environmentalist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Printable Pack: Environment! edition ??

Check out these printable activities to create family moments and meaningful conversations with your little ones:

• Recycling at home! → Where does each item go? Teach your kids how to recycle in a simple way with these printable activities!
• Papumba’s Nature Walk scavenger hunt —> Before going to a nearby park with your little ones, print out this list of items that they can look for on a nature walk, such as different types of plants, animals, or natural objects. They can then check items off the list as they find them. Later, discuss what they saw and learned on their nature walk.

In short, children who learn about the importance of protecting the environment at a young age are more likely to grow up to be environmentally conscious adults who are committed to protecting the planet, and that’s just what we need. That’s why environmental education is an important part of a child's education and can help them develop important skills and values that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Bonus: climate change, from one kid to another!

One reason why children may learn better from other children is because they can relate to and learn from each other's experiences and perspectives. When children are learning from each other, they may be more engaged and motivated because the information is coming from someone who is closer to their own age and experiences!

In this video, enthusiastic 8-year-old Bandi shares a kid’s perspective on what climate change is and invites all kids to engage in climate action. Check it out!

?? After watching the video, ask them what they thought about it! If you need some inspiration, here are some topics you can discuss:

• What did you learn from this talk?
• After watching this, how would you explain climate change to one of your friends?

About Papumba

Papumba is a mobile subscription-based educational platform designed for children aged 2 to 7. It boasts over 500 learning activities, including educational games, videos, books, podcasts, meditations and yoga. Papumba is kidSAFE-certified and contains no ads or in-app purchases. It’s available on the App Store and Play Store.

Above all, our goal is to help young families grow together through playful activities which stimulate children's intellectual and emotional intelligence.

Download Papumba to kickstart your family’s eco-friendly journey, and visit https://worldanimalprotection.org to learn more about the wonderful work they do to care for all animals around the globe.