Washington (GGM) Analysis | September 1, 2020 by Sarah J. Kings

Most parents would like their children to become happy and healthy adults. As an eco-conscious parent, you are also aware of the need to provide a safe and viable environment for your children as they grow up. With this in mind, you have been recycling, upcycling, and teaching your children habits that reduce waste. You might be noticing that with talks of the climate crisis all around them, your children might be expressing feelings of being overwhelmed. Afterall, this is a massive issue, and it may leave your young one feeling like it is too big to tackle. Making a Hero Board composed of positive role models who are making headway in combating this crisis is an excellent way to assuage anxious feelings in your child.

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First get out a dry erase board or a chalkboard and some chalk.  Next, give your child a list of five to ten people to research in a virtual scavenger hunt.  These people should all be worthy of being called a Hero for Mother Nature.  Ask your child to come up with an eco-friendly fact about each person on the list.  Once your child has discovered one thing that each of these individuals is doing for the environment, have a discussion with them.  Allow them to explain what they found out, and talk about which people are the most inspiring. Ask your child to pick their top three favorite people from the list, and give them some time to do some more research.  On the chalkboard, your child can draw an image of their top three heroes, write down inspirational quotes, and jot down some interesting things that those people are doing to improve the health of the environment. 

Here is a list of 10 people you can use to get this process rolling.

・Lise King – Executive Director of United Nations Global Impact

・Leonardo DiCaprio – Actor, producer, and activist

・Greta Thunberg – Child activist and leader in climate change 

・Jane Fonda – Actress and activist

・Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – United States Congresswoman 

・Sean Mendes – Singer and environmentalist

・Natalie Portman – Actress, Producer, and activist

・Jane Goodall – Research Scientist and activist

・Bernie Sanders – Vermont Senator 

・Dr. Gavin Schmidt– Climate Scientist at NASA

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For even more fun, use your driveway and some sidewalk chalk, instead of a chalkboard. This activity will give your child the chance to do a little research about all the positive things that are being done to help Mother Earth. It will give you a chance to bond with your child over this important issue. It will also encourage them on their journey, and remind them that they are not alone in their efforts to combat the climate crisis. 

Come back every Tuesday for more Eco-Friendly Parenting tips!

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