Recycling Ideas for Children

Sometimes adults have a hard time getting into the habit of recycling. By teaching children at a young age to reduce waste, reuse whatever they can and recycle what they cannot reuse, it will become a habit they will carry into adulthood.Children should be taught why recycling is important, but also should be given fun and practical ways to incorporate it into daily life.

  1. Reducing Waste

    • Reducing waste is an important first step in the recycling process. Children can be taught to reduce waste from birth by using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. By setting an example from the very beginning, children will grow up always knowing the importance of reducing waste.

      Potty training is another excellent time to teach children to reduce their waste. Remind children to use only three or four squares of toilet paper, rather than tearing off 10 feet at a time, as kids love to do. With potty training comes hand washing lessons, so teach kids to use just a small amount of soap and to turn the water off completely when they are done.

      Children love to help mommy and daddy clean. Take advantage of their offers to help, and use these moments to teach them to reduce waste. Remind them to use only one piece of paper towel at a time rather than three. Explain to them that it is best to make sure the washing machine or dishwasher is completely full, because running a half-empty machine wastes water, soap and electricity.

    Reusing Items

    • Reusing items is the next step in recycling products. Children have incredible imaginations. Once you begin showing them ways to reuse items around the house, they will probably come up with ideas that you never crossed your mind.

      The containers that baby wipes come in are sturdy and stackable. Teach children to store their small toys in these containers and stack them up in their bedroom closets. Set an example for your children by reusing these tubs yourself. They are great for sorting coupons, small tools, nuts, bolts, screws, office items and craft items.

      Foods like yogurt and soft butter come in tubs that can be reused for leftovers. Let your children wash and dry the tubs when they are empty, and find a special place to store them to be reused. Explain that reusing these items is good for the environment, and because you do not have to buy containers for your dinner leftovers, reusing items also saves money.

      Birthdays are another opportunity to teach children to reuse items. Wrapping paper can be reused for craft projects such as making thank you cards and collages. Gift bags also are easy to save and reuse.

    Recycling

    • Recycling is the final step of the process. Many people do not recycle because they think it is too time consuming or burdensome. Teach your children early to recycle, and it will become a habit that will stay with them when they grow up.

      Let your children go shopping with you to pick out buckets for sorting recyclables. Have them paint labels on the buckets to help them remember which buckets are for plastic, glass, aluminum and paper. Teach them about rinsing bottles before putting them in the bins.

      Take your children to a recycling center to see what happens to the items they are sorting at home. Explain to them that if people had not taken the time to recycle, all the items would have ended up in the trash.

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