How to bring your child up to want to save the world

Climate change is happening faster than scientists predicted, we’re losing animal species left, right and centre and the world's weather is all over the show. We need to protect our planet by making changes now. If you care about the environment, you’ve no doubt wondered ‘how can I teach my children to do the same?’. The best way to inspire children to look after our precious resources is to lead by example. 

Forget about educating them on the dreary details, instead focus on how you’re helping our environment thrive. We know life’s busy and often ‘easy’ wins over ‘what’s eco’, which is why we believe making little changes is the way forward (and more sustainable in the long run). 

Here are our recommendations for sustainable living. And remember, go slow.

Changes to make to your weekly shop
Make a big impact to the health of our planet and shop in a more environmentally-minded way.

Get some reusable produce bags
Plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down and use precious fossil fuels. Grab some reusable produce bags from your supermarket or get them online. They’re also great for chucking toys in and collecting treasures on walks.

Keep extra cloth bags on hand
Throw a small reusable shopping bag in your handbag, stash one in your car and pop one in your buggy so you can always refuse that plastic bag. If you get caught out, consider using your arms…. they’re pretty good at carrying stuff!

Eat less meat
Environmentally, eating meat comes with a big carbon cost – animal emissions, chemical run off and water usage to name a few. Challenge your cooking skills and schedule in one or two vegetarian nights a week at your place.

Buy NZ-made
Stop buying imported fruit and veggies. The further your food has to travel, the larger the carbon footprint. Reduce your weekly spend, support your local farmers and get in sync with seasonal produce by buying Kiwi-grown goods.

BYO your own containers
Most butchers, some supermarkets and nearly all farmers markets will let you bring your own container to their deli/meat/fish counter. Keep some in your car so you don’t have to remember them, or put them next to your reusable shopping bags at home.

Save money and minimise waste
There are some great local companies making paper-wrapped haircare bars, baby wipes menstrual cups and sanitary products, bamboo cotton buds and a plethora of waste free items.

Changes to make at home
Role model an economical way to live that’s low on resources but big on happiness.

Watch your waste
Food waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges. As uneaten food breaks down, it emits carbon into the air. Each year we waste three shopping trolleys worth of food per family, about $560 worth!

• Plan your meals and only buy what you need

• Take leftovers for lunch

• Find ways to use up remaining food by entering the ingredients into Google

• Start a home compost or worm farm

• Adopt a ‘finish that, before you get something new’ approach to eating with your children.

• Save money by reducing your food waste with Love Food Hate Waste.

Grow your own garden
Raising your own veggies not only saves you money, it teaches your children how to grow their own food, which plants grow in which season, the importance of insects and bees, and how to care for plants.

Rethink how you give
Earth’s resources are being exploited as our consumer behaviour sees us buying more and more mass-produced junk. Our homes (and garages) are full of stuff yet we have some of the poorest mental health stats in the world. ‘Stuff’ isn’t making us happy and it’s harming our environment. 

• Give the gift of experience – movie vouchers, annual memberships to the local zoo, toy library, local attraction, music classes, art classes…

• Give a gift you’ve made yourself

• Buy a second-hand present from your local op shop

• Agree with extended family to only buy for the kids this Christmas, or do a family draw and buy for one person.

Ditch pricey wrapping paper, that mostly can’t be recycled, for some fun alternatives:

• Use your children’s prolific artwork to wrap presents

• Try furoshiki the Japanese art of fabric wrapping. Use old clothing or buy some old, pretty sheets/fabric from your local op shop

• Buy plain (recyclable) brown paper from your stationary store and decorate using potato stamps – a fav with children.

Change your driving habits
It’s exciting to see hybrids and electric cars on our roads – no doubt they’ll be more options before too long. In the meantime, use your car wisely by working your weekly errands more efficiently so you’re going out once rather than making multiple trips across town.

Look at your bike options – do you need a carrier seat for your child so you can enjoy getting out and about together, to run errands, drop your child off at their childcare centre or get to work?

Walk – take the time to slow down and enjoy walking more.
Collect rubbish along the way
Chuck an old plastic bag in your buggy so you can collect plastic rubbish you see on the ground, at the park or the beach. You’ll show your children that we all play a part in protecting our environment.

Change how you think about fashion
“The fashion industry is regarded as one of the most polluting in the world, generating millions of tons of waste every year”. Fast fashion is no longer sustainable – using earth’s precious resources and cheap labour, we’re not paying the true cost of the garments our wardrobes are packed with.  

Minimise your wardrobe

• Clear out anything you haven’t worn for a year and sell it online or through a second hand shop that sells on behalf, upcycle, gift to a friend or donate to charity

• Save money and only buy what you need

• Buy second hand before you buy new

• Buy quality items that are ethically and sustainably made (even better if they’re local), remembering you can almost certainly on-sell items when you’re done with them.

Change the way you eat out  
Eating out is a minefield when it comes to single-use plastic. Avoid most of it by being prepared. 

Get reusable cups for everyone in your family
A good stocking stuffer this Christmas – get your child a fluffy cup in their favourite colour when you buy your own. Enjoy discounted coffee at many cafes!

Stock up your car

• Leave a spare mug or even some old (clean) glass jars (old socks make a great wrap to stop you from burning your fingers) in your car.

• Add a family set of reusable straws, cutlery (sporks are great) and cloth napkins (or some old tea towels) to use when you’re out and about.

• A few reusable containers - some sushi shops offer a discount if you BYO containers!

More tips for waste-free dining

• Remember to let the café/takeaway staff know you won’t need any plastic cutlery with your order.

• Getting sauces and condiments in single-use portions? Can the staff pop these in nude for you?  

There are loads of ways to lighten your environmental footprint, save your family a few bob, and inspire your children to follow suit. When in doubt, remember: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and lastly recycle. 

• Discover more about your child’s development here.

• Find out what Neuroscience Educator Nathan Wallis says 3-7 year olds need to learn.

• Tips for your child’s first 1,000 days.

If you’re interested in learning more about New Shoots centres, our website is a great place to start. You can:

Find the centre nearest you

Contact us to organise a visit

Discover our curriculum, vision and foundation principles

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