The most important thing a mother can do to save the planet for future generations is not recycling, conserving electricity, reducing carbon emissions, or using CFLs. The most important thing a mother can do to save the planet is to inspire and nurture a love of the planet in her children. They are the true stewards of the future. It is their hearts and hands that will strike the balance between man and nature in the years to come. With Earth Day right around the corner, I’ve been thinking more about how to share the wonder of the natural world with my own daughter.

I was lucky enough to have my daughter attend a local preschool that does an amazing job of inspiring curiosity, respect, and affection for the natural world. With gentle guidance, they taught my young daughter about concepts as complex as the interdependence of all living things. Partly because of these teachings, she now enthusiastically participates in recycling and energy conservation efforts around our home and town. It isn’t a chore for her; she loves the idea that she is helping to create a healthier planet.

One of the best (and most enjoyable) ways to inspire a child’s interest in preserving the planet is to share with her your own sense of awe and wonder for the diversity that abounds in nature. Children are innately curious and fascinated by animals of all kinds. They love to dig in the dirt, explore, and learn how things work out in the big, wide world. Here are 8 tips for nurturing that interest:

1. Go for a walk. You will benefit from the fresh air and exercise, but also give your child a chance to see the natural world up close and personal. Even city dwellers can find niches of nature if they look closely enough.
2. Dig in the dirt. Most kids have a natural affinity with dirt. As a toddler, my own daughter detested “messy” activities like finger painting, but loved to wriggle naked toes and fingers in freshly turned earth. Let kids experience nature with all their senses.
3. Look through the artist’s eye. Kids are also natural artists. They love to create art that depicts the world as they see it. Encourage them to draw, paint, or sculpt subjects from their explorations. Ask them to design their own creatures and environments.
4. Plant something. Watching something grow can be magical. My daughter once made me “rescue” a partially-sprouted seed from an apple that had gone past its prime. We marveled for months over the miniature apple tree that sprouted up in a tiny, plastic pot on the kitchen table. Sadly, the little tree didn’t survive the winter, but we’ll definitely try again.
5. Pretend. I’ve always loved the Merlin story where young Arthur is transformed into a bird, a fish, and other animals – learning about them through the minutiae of their lives. Spend an afternoon as a meerkat or an African elephant or a bottlenose dolphin. You’ll be amazed at how much they will learn … and maybe you, too!
6. Get gross. Sometimes, the things kids find most fascinating about the natural world are the ones that make you say, “Ewwww!” Don’t get squeamish! If the ick factor is what intrigues your little ones, have at it. Just because it isn’t cute and furry doesn’t mean it isn’t worth learning about …or saving.
7. Get granular. Sometimes, it’s the tiniest details that can draw a child in – a dew-bejeweled spider’s web, a bustling ant hill, the whiskers on a kitten, one tiny flower, or a single feather from a migrating bird. As William Blake said, “To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour. “
8. Get perspective. On the other hand, connecting all the dots from one creature and one ecosystem to another can also be an amazing experience. When a child starts to understand the way one creature’s life affects another’s, they start to sense their place in the grand scheme of things. It’s such an important concept, and one that fills them with pride at being part of something bigger than themselves … and, most importantly, being able to make a difference in that larger world.

How do you share Earth Day with your kids – on April 22nd and all year round?

Image Credit: The Home Planet, by Skip Steuart