8 Fun Tips to Encourage Kids to Recycle

One of the things we have to encourage our kids to do is to recycle. As they say, it is never too early to learn. In fact, this phase is the best time to teach about recycling and its importance as kids are always eager to learn and are always open to new ideas.

To get your kids involved in recycling, here are some fun tips on how to do just that:

1. Provide your kids with interesting facts about the environment and about recycling. When teaching your kids about the importance of recycling, you do not simply tell them, "hey, this is important." Kids are very smart and you need to prove your point. In order for you to do that, present your kids with true and amazing facts about recycling such as how for every ton of paper recycled, 17 trees are spared from being cut down. Make them realize that all our actions affect our Mother Earth in some way and because this is our home, we would not want to do anything that can harm it.

2. Start a home recycling program. Place recycling bins around the house and formulate an easy-to-follow recycling program for the whole family. Get kids involved and interested by putting them in charge of some of the tasks that need to be done. This will not only get them excited but will also give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. This will make them feel that you are treating them as responsible adults.

3. Set a good example. Be sure to practice what you preach and that you show your kids that you are doing your part in the home recycling program.

4. Make recycling fun. Turn recycling chores into fun games. For example, instead of simply collecting old bottles and cans, hold an art contest for the kids in the family to decorate these old materials creatively. The one who is most creative wins a prize. If you are afraid that this can result into sibling rivalry of some sort, it is suggested that you give out prizes for all the kids so that everyone is happy.

5. Do creative art projects from old materials. For instance, you and the kids can create wonderful pieces of paper mache sculptures from old newspapers and magazines.

6. Let kids earn from recycling. After they have collected old bottles, cans and plastics, bring these to local recycling center and let them spend the money they get from it to buy things they like.

7. Allow your kids to join a kids' recycling club in the community. This will not only encourage kids to recycle but will also pave the way for new friendships and bonds to be formed.

8. Take them on a trip to the local recycling center. This way, the kids will get a close look on how recycling takes place.

The need to protect our Mother Earth should always be one of the top priorities of things that we should educate our kids about. Aside from teaching them how to be polite, generous or punctual, we should also inculcate in them the significance of respect for the environment.