Author name: parentingdiaries5@gmail.com

Growing up in an earth-conscious Indian family without knowing what “Sustainability” means, is a Pride!! The emphasis on making the best use of the available resources and reusing them to the extent possible is a family culture here. Maybe that’s what makes the Indian Parenting style different!! Like a simple piece of cloth can stay in the family for decades from dressing oneself to converting into a kitchen wipe and later into a mop. These practices are etched deep in our souls, inherited. India has a rich heritage of sustainable practices, passed down through generations. We need to evolve from the current trends and focus on the needs, real needs. As a child ourselves, during traveling we always used a big insulated water jar, then as we grew up we switched to packaged water and now to Stainless steel bottles. we do attempt to practice sustainable living. But what is Sustainable living? It is living in harmony with nature, minimizing waste and its impact on the environment. How can we pass this down to the GenZ with so many growing trends?  Through yearly social initiatives? Or are we, as a parent capable of making it a daily practice and impacting the change at large? Here’s a glimpse into what we do at our home and build an understanding of sustainable living at an early age. After all, it begins at home. Sustainability lessons that a child can master at a very early age, say by 5 years.Sustainability meaning for children – Small changes we can make to help look after the planet like we look after our home and own body. 1. Plant trees in your surroundings or have a terrace garden to learn to care for plants through gardening activities. The child says, “Why waste seeds from the fruits we eat? let’s sow them, wherever we go, during travel. 2.  Zero food wastage home Small & Multiple servings to avoid wastage. Donate the leftovers on the same day. 3. We use old newspapers, boxes, and pamphlets for Craft and origami art4. Old clothes in good condition are donated or otherwise converted into cloth bags, kitchen wipes, etc.5. Minimize wastage of water-  kitchen waste water is collected for plants, reducing the flow of taps in the house.6. Think twice before we buy any toy(Plastic or wood), do we need it? The child is introduced to the concept of landfill, and ocean dumps by allowing observing such areas around our home or during travel. The child knows it will land up in the ocean someday, so he’s the decision-maker7. Always move out with a Stainless steel water bottle & straws.  Avoid plastics to the extent possible to keep our surroundings & water bodies cleanNo packaged food consumption until my child turned 6yrs & keeping it minimum later8. Carry your toiletries during travel9. We convert kitchen waste into compost 10. Ahimsa Being mindful when we walk, cycle, etc so that we don’t harm any creatureWhen we are thoughtful, it’s really easy to raise an Earth-loving child.We have tried and left amazed by the child’s ideas, so we recommend you to start soonBe it leftover food or heaps of plastics around, do such things ache your heart and you wish to bring in a big change. then start small!!