Encourage Your Kids to Reduce Plastic Consumption- Its High Time!

Cutting down on plastic is a hard task, seeing as how our entire house seems to be cluttered with items made of it. It is a challenge not only for the kids but also for the adults to be able to part with their incessant plastic use. But it has to be the parents who take the first step and set an example for the children in the house. Earlier these changes are made in their lives, easier it will be for them to adapt. 

The primary task is to get your little ones to understand the reason for this change in your consumption pattern. They should be aware of the ways in which plastic is destroying the ecosystem they are a part of. The building block of this understanding comes from inner compassion towards the sufferings of nature and its many creations. The child should be motivated enough to take initiative and be put-off by even the thought of using materials such as plastic recklessly.

Start off by explaining to them how their favorite marine animals have been suffering by all the plastic that's being dumped in their natural habitats. Unlike other environmental issues such as animal poaching, deforestation or habitat loss, this is a problem they can tackle head-on and see the results in their homes immediately.

Get your family to understand the importance of being conscious about the items which are made out of plastic both, at the time of purchase and at the time of discarding. Remember, they might not follow your advice, but definitely your example.

Here are a few ideas that might help you along the way and align your vision with the cause:

1. Boycotting plastic cutlery and utensils.

A major contributor to the abundance of plastic is the single-use plastics like disposable utensils. Instead of going to the canteen and eating with the plastic cutlery provided there, kids should carry their own spoons and forks which are more hygienic in any case. Ask the restaurant not to deliver disposable cutlery when ordering online.

2. Using containers made out of healthy materials.

It has been observed that when hot food is placed in a plastic box, they react in a way which leads to the emission of toxic chemicals, the likes of which you don't want your child exposed to. Try to substitute these with containers made out of stainless steel, copper or glass.

3. Deal with the Raddiwale Bhaiyya- he'll help you recycle!

When you feel that the plastic items in your household have reached their end and cannot be repurposed, try not to throw them in the trash but instead group them together and contact your local scrap dealer. Let the kids be in charge! We often consider the raddiwala when it's time to dispose of our excess of newspapers and pamphlets, but it's time to expand this approach to other waste items such as plastic.

4. Rethink using single-use polythene bags.

Try to replace your regular polythene bags with jute or cloth bags whenever you step out for shopping. You might still end up with a pile of polythene bags at your home. Keep them handy and put them to good use the next time you go grocery shopping or need to pack your child's lunchbox. They are resilient enough to handle multiple uses. Having a few of them in the back of your car would make sure you won't be acquiring new polythene bags and also have something to put in your trash so that you don't drop it on the way.

5. Buying items that come with refillable pouches.

Another common habit that has found its way in many households is that of buying items and throwing them away once they run out of steam. Even when their refills are widely available and considerably cheaper. This approach can be taken with numerous items such as liquid soap pouches, pen ink refills, mosquito repellent refills, and so many more. So look for refills of certain products rather than buying them again every time.

6. Donate, resell and buy second-hand plastics.

Rather than going to the store and looking for fresh products made out of plastic; try to find their perfect second-hand alternatives. Many products are discarded without much use and remain in perfectly good and reusable condition. A great example of this is products made for infants. These run out of purpose in a relatively short period without going through much wear and tear. They can be put to good use by other families with infants. This way the plastic footprint continues to lower.

7. Decorating old containers.

Rather than buying new plastic containers or boxes, you can find ways of putting other old items to use such as jam jars, or ketchup bottles. Make it an arts and crafts activity by letting your kids label and decorate these containers. They can be decorated with paints and drawings, or by covering them with different patterns of fabric. You can even stick mirrors, flowers or other eco-friendly trinkets on it for extra decor. A collage can also be used instead of labeling for easier identification.

Your children might just be your best weapon in this fight for nature. Once your child is educated on this subject, he will be the one who will reprimand you every time you buy something made of plastic or when you discard it without paying any heed.

Stay Tuned, Stay Relevant!