Do you ever stop to think about the trajectory we as a nation, as a species and as a planet find ourselves on? We live in a time of political and economic instability. An age where we seem defined by our divisions. The digital realm and social media, constructs that should unite us, can easily become an echo chamber of hate and discord. On top of all this, we can no longer bury our heads in the sand when it comes to the impact our actions have on the world around us. The late Stephen Hawking posited that unless we stopped taking our planet for granted, we would render it uninhabitable within 100 years. What’s more, according to the UN, unless we take drastic steps to undo the climate change we have brought about the damage will be completely irreversible in just 11 years locking us on a course that will lead to our inevitable extinction. All while the leader of the free world refuses to acknowledge that climate change is even a thing.
It’s enough to make one wonder what sort of world our kids will inherit. What will the world look like by the time they bring their children into it? And what can we do to ensure that our kids inherit a brighter future.
To a certain extent we do what we’ve always done. We love, we educate and we nurture. We lead by example and do what we can to make the whole family happy. Here are some great ways in which we can all ensure our kids inherit a better world than the one we currently occupy.
Teach them the importance of eating their fruit and veggies
We in the developed world are addicted to processed and prepackaged foods, and it’s killing us and the planet. Processed foods have a far, far bigger carbon footprint than fresh fruit and veggies and require more energy, water and resources to make. What’s more, our over reliance on meat, fish and dairy products is killing the planet.
Evidence suggests that one of the best ways to take care of our bodies and our planet is to eat more fresh fruit, veggies, grains and pulses… And less of everything else. Animal agriculture has a carbon footprint that dwarfs the entire transportation industry’s and is the world’s leading cause not just of pollution but of species extinction, animal habitat loss and ocean “dead zones”. What’s more, a diet that’s comprised of mostly (or entirely) plant based foods is linked to a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, some cancers and inflammatory conditions from arthritis to multiple sclerosis.
In an age where childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, one of the most meaningful ways in which we can help our kids is by educating them about what goes on their plates.
Remind them how lucky they are
We all want our kids to lead charmed lives. But privilege is a double edged sword. When we grow up in a bubble of privilege we can take it for granted and this can make us less aware and understanding of the plight of others.
As such, we owe it to our kids to remind them how lucky we and they are. Volunteer with them at a local homeless shelter or women’s refuge. Ask your church if they can help with any community outreach programs. Encourage them to invite their friends over for dinner or encourage them to donate a toy to a children’s charity at Christmas or on their birthday.
The more kids are aware of how lucky they are the more they’re likely to be kind and charitable to others… And if we all raise our kids to be kind and charitable they can work together to create a more generous and less self-serving world.
Teach them sustainable good habits
In an age where our natural resources are dwindling, we can all gain from adopting more sustainable behaviors. As we already discussed, eating more veggies and fruits is a great start, but there are many other good sustainable habits which they can learn as children and carry into adult life. For example;
- Eschewing single use plastics
- Attaching solar panels to the roof of the home and even the shed. This will help create a more sustainable future while also reducing energy bills.
- Buy more fresh food and less pre packaged and processed foods to reduce landfill waste.
- Install faucet aerators and low flow shower heads to reduce water waste.
- Reuse and repurpose rather than throwing away or recycling.
- Give old clothes to charity rather than throwing them in the trash. Textile waste is a huge problem for the environment.
Image by Family Treasures via Flickr
Teach them the value (and importance) of money
The economic future is uncertain. Who knows what your kids will pay for a quart of milk when they grow up, much less what they can expect to buy a home for. As such, teaching them good financial habits is every bit as important as teaching them good sustainability habits.
Kids are never too young to start learning about money. One of the easiest ways you can start to do this is by using real cash money when you take them out with you to the store. It’s hard for kids to comprehend the value of money when a wave of a card over a scanner is all it takes to facilitate a transaction. Get them used to the look and feel of real bills and coins. This will demystify money for them and this is the first step to mastering it.
Get them used to the concept of saving. By all means give them an allowance but incentivize them to do something more meaningful with it than spending it all on candy the first chance they get. If you offer to match what they set aside in order to save up for the things they really want this is a great way to teach them the value of savings and being disciplined with their money.
Teach them to respect and listen to others, even if they don’t always agree
Finally, if we’re to see the sun rise over a harmonious and happy tomorrow, it’s more important that we teach our kids to listen to, respect and value others. As our interactions with others take place through the digital lens of social media, people can really let their ugly sides show when they feel that they have no face-to-face accountability.
If we raise our kids to be polite attentive and respectful in the digital world and real world. They’re sure to form happier, more productive and more meaningful relations with others.
If we all do our part, what a wonderful world we could help create!