Waste Not Want Not

Let's teach our children to conserve! I know that children can be very wasteful and I think that sometimes in the interest of "picking our battles," we let them get away with it. Let's not. Let's teach our children to respect our planet's resources while they are young so that it becomes a core value. Our grandparents had this value in spades. I remember my mom always saved the paper that the butter came wrapped in and used it to grease her baking pans. Those folks were "green" back when it meant inexperienced, not environmentally conscious.

Many of the parents here at Philomath Montessori are expert re-sale shoppers. Invariably, when I compliment a mom or child on an outfit, they got it second-hand. What a great way to conserve resources. You know it takes so much energy and water to produce textiles! Let's use just one paper towel to dry our hands or better yet, use the hot air dryer. Let's always use both sides of the paper. Let's look into the recycling bin for our arts and crafts supplies. Let's turn off the lights when not in use and turn off the water when we brush our teeth.

When approaching a buffet, encourage your child to take some tastes of dishes, then go back for more of their favorites. I'm no member of the "clean plate club," though. It is just as wasteful to eat food one doesn't want or need as it is to throw it away. We can compost much of our food waste, though, offer it to our neighbor's chickens (with permission) or save it for later. You know what George Carlin said about leftovers, right? He said leftovers make you feel good twice. When you put it in a container and place it in the fridge you think "I'm saving food!" Then when it sits there a while and becomes something mysterious (could be meat...could be cake) and you throw it out you think "I'm saving lives!"

It's our job to teach our children to respect all they have. If our children are very cavalier about their possessions, that is probably an indication that they have too much. This youngest generation may be the group that brings back those old-fashioned values of frugality and economy. They are sorely needed and it is up to us grown-ups to model them.

Best regards,
Doni