Big Questions About Our Environment

It’s really no secret that we’re in a bit of pickle, environmentally speaking. There’s no shortage of examples of climate change and its detrimental effects on our lives, and on the lives of other creatures. It’s easy to feel defeated and think “Well, what can we do?”

Thankfully, there’s still a lot we can do to preserve, protect, and even heal our planet, and part of this involves engaging our little thinkers in conversation about how they can help. Asking big questions (sometimes even difficult ones) is just a first step, but it’s an important one, one that should happen as early on as possible.

Here are some earth-friendly questions to get you and your budding eco-warrior started:

·      Why do humans sometimes feel like we’re separate from the rest of nature? When you don’t feel a part of something, how does that change the way you think and act?

·      What do humans have in common with other animals? Do they like and think and need the same things as we do?

·      Do plants have thoughts and feelings? How can we tell? If they could talk to humans, what do you think they’d say?

·      Are things like rocks, water, air, and soil living? If not, are we still responsible for protecting them?

·      Even if we didn’t make a mess, is it our responsibility to clean it up? What if the earth is messy? Whose job is it to fix it?

·      If something is harmful to the earth and the creatures living on it, should it be not allowed, or should we let people choose whether or not they do it?

·      Why is it so important to think about the future? Why can’t we just think about right now?

·      How should we think about the earth itself? Is it just our home, or something we own, or something we can use? What if we thought of the earth as a being itself? Would we choose to live on it differently?

If you really want these conversations to have impact and to stick, start them while visiting a park, a forest, or a conservation area. Ask them while gardening, at the zoo, or while caring for pets and other animals at home. Keep a notebook and a pencil handy, so children can preserve their thoughts in writing or pictures. Lend them a device to record sounds and video of the life going on around them. Above all, keep the conversation going year-round, and don’t be surprised if one questions sprouts into many others.

These questions are big and complex, but as is the case with most philosophical quandaries, kids tend to see them as a challenge, and an opportunity to be included in something important. At some point, every child will realize that they and their peers will be responsible as stewards of our planet. Why not empower, inform, and involve them at a young age, so they can grow into this vitally important role?

Psssst! If you need help getting started, check out our books/interactive ebooks “Think Green" and “Mildred Builds A World”. You’ll also find all kinds of eco-focused lesson plans and interactive activities on our Wall of Wonder learning page!