One of the by-products of living in a throwaway society is that our children spend a lot of time in automobiles eating fast foods from disposable containers. They also spend most of their time indoors in front of the television, computers and video games. Not only do these activities contribute to the continual pollution of the environment, but they also contribute to a more sedentary, less active and therefore less healthy lifestyle.
Our junk food diet can have many negative effects on our children. Hormone residues in commercial beef products could contribute to the early onset of puberty in girls, while bovine growth hormone has been linked to increased risk of cancer. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, especially among our children. According to the American Diabetes Association’s current estimate, one in three children born in 2000 will be at risk for diabetes. We’ve taught our children to sacrifice nutrition for the sake of convenience, and now we are reaping what we’ve sown.
Diet isn’t the only source of problems for our children. Teen suicide is becoming more common every year in the United States. Could it be that one of the causes of the increase in teen suicide is that our teens have discovered that buying more ‘stuff’ isn’t the key to happiness? Media messages bombard our children with the idea that if they have the right clothes, listen to the right music, eat the right food and drink the right sodas they will be happy and popular. Our children are given the illusion that happiness lies in owning and consuming more. Our children buy more and more material goods in a quest for happiness and popularity. When they discover that these things didn’t make them any happier, the impact can be devastating.
The influence that television and mass media have on our children is so great that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children two years old and younger shouldn’t watch television at all. After the age of two, they recommend a maximum of one hour a day. But in the real world, children go to school and have friends with televisions, video games, and material goods. How can you raise a child to want to live sustainably without becoming a family of hermits?
One way is to teach them to occupy their time with activities that offer opportunities for learning and personal growth. You can find local environmental organizations that offer activities for children. By taking your children to such activities, they’ll meet new friends who have been taught similar lessons about sustainability and the environment. If there aren’t any such organizations in your area, why not start one? What better way to get your children involved in environmental issues than by having them participate in creating a green organization for children!
The more green events you can attend that are family-friendly, the more opportunities your children will have to interact with positive role models and peer influences.
Don’t forget that children learn more by example than by what you tell them. If you want to raise green children, you have to live a green lifestyle yourself. As my children have gotten older I’ve often been pleasantly surprised when they have shown me that they were paying attention after all, even though at times I felt as if I were talking to a post. They’re watching and paying attention more than you know. If they see you expressing concern for the environment, then they will too. Be a good example, and you and your children will reap the rewards!
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