Tips On How to Educate In an Environmentally Conscious Way
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Environmental education in the Icelandic school system is lacking. Schools do not actually teach children and teenagers about environmental problems and how to possibly solve them. As you probably know, the climate crisis is one of the most important topics in our culture. We already know that the consequences of climate change will be even more severe in the future and, therefore, today’s children and teenagers must learn how to find solutions to this crisis. At least, they should be challenged to do so. Since the education system is not doing enough, here are some tips on how to educate your children and society in an environmentally conscious way.
First of all: Experience nature. Enjoy spending time in nature, and talk about it. Talk about the plants, animals, mountains, climates, ecosystems, etc., that surround you. It is very important to be aware of the environment that surrounds us, be conscious and knowledgeable about it. For example, you could look up and contemplate what kind of trees are surrounding you, what is the favourite food of the animal you are looking at, etc. In other words, learn “fun facts” about the species and environments around us. In this way, children can make connections and improve their sensitivity and care. We are programmed to care about what is familiar to us. Therefore, make nature familiar and they will care about it!
Second of all: Always look for solutions on a positive note. Personally, I am working toward my Master’s in Environment and Natural Resources, and I am sick of learning depressing facts and hearing news about the climate crisis. By now, I think everyone knows that fossil fuels and plastics are bad for the environment. Of course, it is important to know these facts, but the important thing is to find solutions. Teach children how to recycle properly by cleaning your recyclables and separating them into different bins. Teach them that the car is not always essential for getting around. Teach them how to make their own soap, granola, beeswax wraps, decorations, etc. You can even try growing your own food, e.g. peppers, avocados, or garlic, which are easy to grow. Make it a game!
Third: Reduce. Quality of life is not about owning the most or the largest number of things. It is about having quality essentials that will last and are good for you and the planet. One way to teach people how to think about reducing is to go through their waste, mentally or literally. This will make them more conscious about their consumption habits. For example, women may start to think twice about menstrual products and cotton pads. Both are very easy to avoid by switching to a menstrual cup and reusable sponges.
In this context, it is also worth dwelling on the notion of repairing, to which students are introduced through sewing classes. However, in my opinion, it is not taught as well as it could be. It is, of course, essential that everyone learns how to mend their own clothes, which they learn in school. But when creating new clothes from old ones, I think teachers should encourage more creativity, combining different textures and patterns. That way, students would learn that they can create unique and extremely stylish new clothes from old ones. “Misbrigði,” a project by Iceland University of the Arts student Katrín María Káradóttir, is a perfect example of this.
Finally, the most basic yet very important tip: Always know the impact of your actions. Learn how to look at everything with insight, with an environmentally conscious view, but without feeling guilt or sorrow. Let children enjoy every bit of life, always feeling a strong connection to the planet, other species, and ecosystems.