Be a Sustainable Parenting Role Model with These 10 Simple yet Effective Changes

I am writing this post not as an expert in sustainability, but as a mother of three striving to become more sustainable.
If you’ve been reading my content for a while, you will know that I am a huge believer in starting where you are at. Small changes inevitably lead to big results over time.

My own reasons for starting our journey to becoming more sustainable were threefold:

  1. I wanted to be a role model to my children and teach my children about the importance of taking care of the environment so that they could adopt (and then pass down) good habits.
  2. I was sick of all the waste we produced as a family of 5 – whilst we have recycled for years, we had so much plastic to recycle each week.
  3. Cost was also a huge factor: throwing out expired food seemed extremely wasteful, especially with rising food costs.

 

monthly A Playful Year membership featuring 3 downloadable resources: family rhythm guides, playful prompts and the family values workbook

How we got started

Our own journey to becoming more sustainable started approximately 6 years ago. We took things step by step to avoid becoming overwhelmed:

5 swaps we made:

  • We swapped flimsy lunchboxes for durable bento style boxes. Whilst they are more pricey, they last the distance.
  • We stopped buying plastic water bottles and now take our Kleen Kanteen drink bottles with us everywhere.
  • We swapped out cling film for beeswax wraps.
  • Instead of taking the car on short journeys, we either walk, cycle or take public transport.
  • We  instilled good habits around turning off lights and electronics when they aren’t in use

10 sustainable living tips for families:

10 sustainable living tips for families pinterest infographic

Reduce single-use plastics:

Encourage the use of reusable water bottles, shopping bags, and containers to reduce plastic waste.

Conserve Energy:

Teach children to turn off lights and electronics when not in use, and to conserve water by fixing leaks and taking shorter showers.

Support Local and Organic Agriculture:

Buy fresh, local produce and products that are grown organically to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and support sustainable agriculture practices.

Use Public Transportation or Carpool:

Consider taking public transportation, carpooling, or biking instead of driving alone to reduce carbon emissions.

Reduce Food Waste:

Plan meals, save leftovers, and compost food scraps to reduce food waste and its impact on the environment.

Shop Second-hand:

Buy second-hand clothing, toys, and furniture instead of buying new items, to reduce waste and conserve resources.

Use Reusable Cleaning Products:

Choose reusable cleaning cloths, mops, and other cleaning products instead of disposable options to reduce waste and chemicals in the environment.

Plant a Garden:

Encourage children to get outside and get their hands dirty by planting a vegetable or herb garden.

Support Renewable Energy:

Advocate for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, and invest in renewable energy for your own home if possible.

Educate with books:

Teach children about sustainability and the importance of taking care of the environment, so they can continue these practices into adulthood

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10 sustainable living ideas for families featuring an image of groceries in reusable net bags

Sian Thomas
an image of This Playful Home founder, Sian Thomas. The photo includes a photo of her daughter when she was around 18 months old

I’m Siân (rhymes with yarn), a play advocate, proud parent to three, and former teacher. My mission is to infuse more joy and less overwhelm into the lives of parents. Discover play-based activities with me that not only make learning FUN but also forge deep connections with your young learners, creating memories to cherish forever.