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Raising
Green Kids
by
Chuck Hall
 One
of the by-products of living in a throwaway society is that our
children spend a lot of time in automobiles eating fast foods from
disposable containers. They also spend most of their time indoors in
front of the television, computers and video games. Not only do
these activities contribute to the continual pollution of the
environment, but they also contribute to a more sedentary, less
active and therefore less healthy lifestyle.
Our
junk food diet can have many negative effects on our children.
Hormone residues in commercial beef products could contribute to the
early onset of puberty in girls, while bovine growth hormone has
been linked to increased risk of cancer. Obesity is an epidemic in
the United States, especially among our children. According to the
American Diabetes Association’s current estimate, one in three
children born in 2000 will be at risk for diabetes. We’ve taught
our children to sacrifice nutrition for the sake of convenience, and
now we are reaping what we’ve sown.
Diet
isn’t the only source of problems for our children. Teen suicide
is becoming more common every year in the United States. Could it be
that one of the causes of the increase in teen suicide is that our
teens have discovered that buying more ‘stuff’ isn’t the key
to happiness? Media messages bombard our children with the idea that
if they have the right clothes, listen to the right music, eat the
right food and drink the right sodas they will be happy and popular.
Our children are given the illusion that happiness lies in owning
and consuming more. Our children buy more and more material goods in
a quest for happiness and popularity. When they discover that these
things didn’t make them any happier, the impact can be
devastating.
The
influence that television and mass media have on our children is so
great that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
children two years old and younger shouldn’t watch television at
all. After the age of two, they recommend a maximum of one hour a
day. But in the real world, children go to school and have friends
with televisions, video games, and material goods. How can you raise
a child to want to live sustainably without becoming a family of
hermits?
One
way is to teach them to occupy their time with activities that offer
opportunities for learning and personal growth. You can find local
environmental organizations that offer activities for children. By
taking your children to such activities, they’ll meet new friends
who have been taught similar lessons about sustainability and the
environment. If there aren’t any such organizations in your area,
why not start one? What better way to get your children involved in
environmental issues than by having them participate in creating a
green organization for children!
The
more green events you can attend that are family-friendly, the more
opportunities your children will have to interact with positive role
models and peer influences.
Don’t
forget that children learn more by example than by what you tell
them. If you want to raise green children, you have to live a green
lifestyle yourself. As my children have gotten older I’ve often
been pleasantly surprised when they have shown me that they were
paying attention after all, even though at times I felt as if I were
talking to a post. They’re watching and paying attention more than
you know. If they see you expressing concern for the environment,
then they will too. Be a good example, and you and your children
will reap the rewards!
Chuck
Hall is a Sustainability Consultant and author. His latest book, Green
Circles: A Sustainable Journey from the Cradle to the Grave, is
now available at Booklocker.com.
You may contact Chuck by email at: chuck@cultureartist.org or visit
the Culture Artist Web site at www.cultureartist.org.
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