Anita Burnham

Helping Your Children Become Globally Aware

Anita Burnham, one of our mom-stuff friends has written an article for us with some great ideas that you can incorporate into your summer schedule to help your children become more globally aware and responsible. Anita Burnham does a podcast with her husband called Glocal Family Podcast.

On my recent podcast, my husband and I talked about spending time with your kids and the idea that some people don't these days because they don't know what to do with them. There are several resources available to help you develop a game plan, but I have a bit of a different idea. You see, my perspective in parenting is to do things with your kids that teach them to be globally aware and responsible. So here are a few activities you can do with your kids that will not only facilitate quality time, but try to teach them about the world around them.

The first activity I actually do with my 2 1/2 year old son. My husband organizes a neighborhood clean up every few months and my son and I go around in a wagon and make sure volunteers have plenty of water and supplies. If your community doesn't have a neighborhood clean up, then organize one. Or you can just simply go out with your children and pick up trash. It doesn't really matter how old your children are, everyone can help.

The second activity would probably require your children to be a little older, but you can use your discretion. I remember going to my local shelter a few times a year to help in the food kitchen. These experiences have shaped the way I see others in a magnificent way. I realize there are people less fortunate than me and I have a desire to help where I can. And while I don't have much money, I know I can volunteer my time and my talents to serve those less fortunate. If your family belongs to a church, I'm sure there are several things you can do as a family to help them out immensely. Whether it be to teach Sunday school or scrub toilets, you can find a multitude of activities you and your family can do together. There is no job too small and unimportant.

Teach your kids about recycling. There is usually a symbol on the bottom of those items that can be recycled (it's a triangle made up of arrows). One of my son's favorite things to do is to throw stuff away for me. He's only 2 1/2, but he has learned to look for the arrow and throw the item away in the appropriate bin.

We are also in the midst of building a resource recovery station where we will have garbage, recycling and a composting bin. We live in the city and we don't have a yard or a balcony, but we are learning more and more about small composting bins for apartments and will implement this station in the next few weeks. Find out what you can about the different types of composting you can do with your children and start composting. It's fun and educational and you can use what soil you get in your garden or your houseplants, which will only facilitate more teaching moments with your children.

And, finally, if you have a backyard or space to put a garden, find out what you can and plant a one. Fruits and vegetables that you grow are much healthier and less expensive than anything you could buy at the grocery store. Commercial produce is laden with all sorts of chemicals and organic produce has not yet gained the market it needs to have comparable prices. And while you're planting and pulling weeds with your kids, you are teaching them valuable lessons and spending quality time with them as well. If you would like more resources on spending time with your kids then check out http://glocalfamily.com/episode5. Anita Burnham www.glocalfamily.com www.anitaburnham.com

We would like to thank Anita for these great ideas. We have also posted a great article for more activities to use for summer called Kids Can Go Green on this month at www.mom- stuff.com web site. If you would like to write us an article for mom's submit it to contact@mom-stuff.com. We love to share the ideas from one mom to another mom. Have a fun summer! Copyright 2008-2009. Dianne E Murray. All rights reserved.