How to teach your child to go green

“Buboy and Anna are friends…they always forget to throw garbage in the right places. They would throw it everywhere, in the river… until all the garbage became the Basura Monster. “

This is one part of my children’s book, The Basura Monster. I wrote the book to remind children about the importance of the 3 Rs — no, make it 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore. And may I add a fifth one? R for Respect. Respect for Mother Earth. For we only have one.

Global Warming. Climate Change. Carbon Footprint. Young children may not be able to fathom these complicated Earth issues. Yet no matter how young they are, you can easily tell them. “We only have one planet. We all must work together to take care of it.”

How to raise a Green-minded child? Let me count the ways.

1) Practice what you preach.

It all starts with you, dear Dads and Moms. Parents are the best role models. So if you display bad habits consistently — like throwing trash indiscriminately and wasting water and electricity, should you expect your children to grow up NOT doing the same? “Sa mata ng bata…” remember the line from that famous ad?

2) Waste segregation.

At home, we have separate trash bins for bio and non-biodegradables. We also make compost.

Play the waste segregation game with your kid. When there is some trash to throw, ask your child to throw it in the proper bin — paper with paper, bottles with bottle, cans with cans, biodegradables all together. Do this until it becomes a habit.

3) Go on a nature trip.

This summer is a perfect time to educate your child about the beauty of nature by taking a walk in the park or going to the zoo and beach. Or in your very own garden, remind your child that if mankind continues to cut down trees and destroy the forests, time will come when we will no longer have enough oxygen to breathe. Tell your child the role of each element in the garden — from the butterfly, the bees and the flowers.

4) Make today, April 22, 2010 an important family bonding day. Plant a tree. And label it with the year when you planted it. For years now, we as a family plant a seedling. Last year it was a calamansi tree. This year it will be another fruit tree.

5) When brushing their teeth, taking a bath, and washing their hands, remind your kids not to waste water. I always tell Anya this fact: “In some parts of our country and the world, people don’t have water. Children have to walk miles and hours in order to find clean water. Many of them turn blind. That’s how dirty their water source is. That is why we are blessed to have clean running water. Don’t be wasteful.” (Recommended book to support this fact: What Matters by David Cohen, page 55 )

6) Go organic.

We eat organic veggies. And free-range chicken. What’s the importance? Aside from these being able to reduce health risks, organic food is produced without using chemicals that will destroy the soil, air and water supply. Sure they are more expensive, but you will reap the benefits, health-wise and it’s for Mother Earth. How I wish there were more accessible restos that offer organic dishes in the menu.

We have our own herb garden. We harvest plenty of tomatoes, lettuce, chili pepper, calamansi. My daughter helps harvest these veggies.

7.) Watch movies with your children like The Inconvenient Truth, Age of Stupid and 2012.

8.) Remind your kids about Ondoy and Pepeng.

9.) Empower your kids. Give them responsibilities at home. Give your kids a task list: Make them the “Electricity Patrol.” Their duty is to turn off the lights and appliances when not in use.

When you are in the mall, in a restaurant, or any public place, empower your kids. Tell them to remind the waiters not to serve water unless the customer asks. Turn off the lights in the restrooms when nobody is using them. Make them a “Green Patroller.”

10.) Give them eco-friendly toys.

There is this one part of the movie Age of Stupid which shows why we should be wary of patronizing goods made in China. Most of the toys made in China are made of low-quality toxic plastic. First world countries reject these plastic toys, have them returned and the plastic toys find their way back to China in shiploads and end up being dumped in the sea. Can you imagine this! How many tons of plastic toys dumped into the sea every single day?

Invest in toys which are more durable and eco-friendly.

Thony Dizon,Coordinator of Project PROTECT

(People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats) EcoWaste Coalition, has this to say:

The EcoWaste Coalition advocates chemical safety, especially the welfare and protection of Filipino children who are most vulnerable to physical injuries and toxic hazards.

According to Germany-based Safe Toys Coalition

(www.safetoyscoalition.org), of which the EcoWaste Coalition is a member, many toys contain hazardous chemicals, which pollute our

environment and pose a significant direct risk to the health of children.

Some of these substances are very harmful to fetuses, infants and children.  For instance, exposure to lead in toys can affect the developing brain and lead to lower IQ and other developmental disorders, while bisphenol A and phthalates, commonly found in plastic toys, can disrupt the essential functions of the endocrine system and its hormones.

Here are some general tips from the EcoWaste Coalition and the Safe Toys Coalition when buying toys:

1.  Less is more! Buy fewer toys. Aim for quality over quantity. Avoid very cheap toys because they often contain more hazardous chemicals.

2.  If you are buying toys, select those that are adequately and truthfully labeled, age-appropriate, locally-made, safe and void of harmful substances.

3.  Carefully read the product labels. If the information is inadequate or written in a language that you do not understand, better not buy it.

4.  Do not buy a toy with a strong chemical or perfumed smell or if it feels uncomfortable to the touch.

5.  For young children, make sure that no small parts can be pulled off and swallowed.

6.  Unpack any new toy and leave it outdoors to let some of the hazardous chemicals evaporate.

7.  Patronize toys that promote a culture of creativity, harmony and peace, and not that of prejudice, war and violence.

10) Aside from eco-friendly toys, may I be so bold as to recommend my latest book, Si Kontra , Si Bida At Big Boy Buwaya. It tells the story of a leader’s insatiable greed and the devastating effects to the environment. For orders, call Katha Publishing at 895-8684 or email at [email protected] .

As Kermit the Frog would sing, “It’s not easy being green.” I agree. Not everyone can be a perfect Earth Warrior. But on a scale of One to 10, you can be a good seven or at least, be a Five. Let’s say, if you cant help but ride a car every single day and by doing so , burn non-renewable sources like fossil fuel, why not consider converting it into an LPG car? Or try to stay at home one or several days a week and not use your car. Don’t be a smoke belcher. Have your car checked and maintained regularly.

Can’t give up coffee? Bring your own mug or tumbler when you order coffee or tea from your fave café hangout.

Shopaholic? Bring your own eco-friendly bag.

Can’t give up using disposable diapers because it is more convenient? Choose a diaper which has more biodegradable features. I use disposable diapers for the convenience and practicality. (And I don’t hide the fact that I endorse EQ Diapers which are cloth like and made of cotton and its parts are mostly biodegradable.) This is one thing I can’t give up, so I more than make up for it by being Earth friendly in many other ways. I avoid plastic bags (most especially the sando bag which is too thin that you can’t even recycle it) and instead, bring my own reusable bags. It’s a good thing though, that more and more supermarkets and clothing stores are now using biodegradable plastic bags. When going to the market, our maid puts all the wet goods in sturdy and reusable plastic pail rather than inside sando plastic bags.

As a flawed Earth Warrior, more than make up for your weak spots by doing more earth friendly acts of love.

Every little act will go a long way.

It’s been 40 years since the first Earth Day. Have we all learned our lesson?

How to raise children who will be good stewards of the Earth? It’s a challenge in the world we live in. Kids need guidance. They should be taught not to live in apathy, and instead, take action.

My fave author Paulo Coelho tweeted: “Let’s delete the arrogant ‘save the planet’ motto, and change to ‘educate the humans.’”

So true.

Happy Birthday, Mother Earth!

(Follow me at twitter@tintinbabao or visit www.parentin.tv )