Montessori Care of the Environment and Earth

Engage Team • Apr 29, 2018

‘Care of environment’ exercises foster love for the environment, help children connect and engage with nature, and encourage the child to interact with the environment, exhibiting respect and love. Such exercises also help the child form a connection with their home environment, in which they find a personal responsibility towards it.

Our earth should be protected so its precious resources can be available to us for many years to come. It is never too early to start teaching children the importance of keeping our planet clean and learning how to reduce, reuse, and recycle. With a little guidance and supervision, kids can get creative helping and celebrating the earth.

Just because preschoolers are small doesn’t mean they can’t help make a difference. After all, little steps can lead to big changes. Even children as young as toddlers and twos can participate in many aspects of the daily care in their homes!

Teach your little ones the importance of keeping the earth and their home environments clean with these easy activities for preschoolers….

Use child-safe cleaning products –

Make a simple mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and water as our all-purpose house cleaner. It’s safe for children and a great, natural disinfectant.

Give them access to child-size cleaning tools –

such as a dustpan, broom, mop, and wash cloths.

Conserve water –

The little things can make a big difference. Every time you turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth, you’re doing something good. Try taking shorter showers. Try drinking tap water instead of bottled water, so you aren’t wasting all that packaging as well. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.

Decorate a Reusable Tote Bag –

Many people are now turning to reusable bags, found in nearly every grocery store, as an alternative to the traditional paper or plastic. Choose a plain tote bag made of cotton or canvas and then let your child decorate it with acrylic paint, fabric markers or paint pens, rhinestones, animal or earth-themed rubbers stamps and stencils, etc. Your little one will be proud to use her tote to transport toys or carry lunches and snacks.

Reuse Materials for Arts and Crafts –

Grab cardboard boxes, shoeboxes, or plastic storage boxes to organize junk mail, old magazines, fabric, ribbons, and extra buttons before they end up in the trash. Some ideas: Transform an empty plastic milk jug into a bird feeder by cutting a hole in the side of the jug and filling the jug with birdseed before hanging on a tree. Create a flowerpot by poking holes in the bottom and cutting the milk jug in half below the handle; decorate it with the miscellaneous materials you have collected. Your child can make multiples of these items and set up a stand in the front yard to sell the recycled crafts. Together, choose an earth-friendly charity, such as American Forests, World Wildlife Fund, or Rainforest Rescue to donate the profits.

Plant a Fruit or Vegetable Garden –

Planting a garden can be fun for any preschooler, especially the ones who like to get dirty. With your child, choose seeds of favorite fruits and vegetables that will grow well in your area to care for through the year. Children will get good exercise; they’ll also learn to nurture the environment and that plants can help clean our air and provide healthy nourishment. Children who learn in and around edible gardens and farms learn firsthand to make connections between food and the environment, food and personal health, and food and community well being. Gardening also teaches responsibility and the importance of caring for the planet.