| Home recycling is a great way to teach your | | | | You can help your child understand how to use |
| children about the environment and about the | | | | the family recycling containers with pictures. You |
| business of running a household. Most children | | | | can attach pictures of recyclable materials to your |
| have heard of "paychecks" and "bills" but they do | | | | recycling bins and even have your child help you |
| not really understand until they are taught. In the | | | | to create these prompts. Placing the recycling bins |
| same way, many people, both children and adults, | | | | next to trash cans will help your child, and the |
| are unconscious of the ripple-effect that occurs | | | | rest of the family, to participate. Convenience is |
| when recycling bins are used instead of garbage | | | | key to successfully using recycling bins. The single |
| cans. | | | | stream recycling available from Waste Wise |
| Collecting, storing, transporting and disposing of | | | | Products adds to this convenience by allowing |
| garbage costs a lot of money, regardless of the | | | | families to recycle everything in the same |
| scale. Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle, | | | | container. |
| estimates saving over $1 million dollars since | | | | You can reward your children for using the |
| starting its recycling program in 2001. Your family | | | | recycling bins by increasing their allowance for |
| can save money, as well, and your children will be | | | | helping out. Children's tasks can include monitoring |
| delighted to help, especially if you pass some of | | | | the recycling containers, emptying recycling bins, |
| your family's savings on to them in the form of | | | | and rinsing out bins for recycling. You can take |
| increased allowances in exchange for participating. | | | | this one step further by educating your children |
| Educate Them On The Importance Of Recycling | | | | about family finances and the cost of trash |
| The first step in starting a family recycling | | | | disposal. Instead of spending more money to |
| program with your children is to help them to | | | | dispose of garbage and adding to the |
| understand the importance of recycling. Explain to | | | | environmental problems of the world today, you |
| them how products are made using various | | | | can teach your child how acting responsibly is |
| natural and manmade resources and what | | | | beneficial in both the short and long term. |
| happens when items are thrown in the trash. | | | | The Business Of Good Choices |
| There are plenty of good children's books about | | | | You can use your recycling bins to teach your |
| recycling, landfills, and pollution that will help you to | | | | children basic business terminology. Business |
| educate your child about the dangers of toxic | | | | finances are recorded as either assets, liabilities, |
| materials in landfills, pollution, and dwindling land | | | | income or expenses. You can explain to your |
| availability. Children are idealistic and it is easy to | | | | children that the tools of their recycling "business", |
| get them excited about using recycling containers. | | | | such as the recycling bins, are their assets. You |
| You can empower your children by involving them | | | | can compare the cost of disposing of garbage |
| in the decision-making process. Once they | | | | with the reduced cost of using recycling bins. |
| understand the importance of recycling, you can | | | | Then use the family budget to demonstrate how |
| begin to teach them about what can and what | | | | paychecks are income, bills are expenses, the |
| cannot be recycled. Mixed media items, such as | | | | things owned by the family are assets and debts |
| glass jar lids and waxed milk cartons, generally | | | | are liabilities. The family's net worth is the |
| cannot be placed in recycling bins. Plastics | | | | difference between liabilities and assets. Expenses |
| numbered #1 or #2 are recyclable. Plastics | | | | are subtracted from income to determine the |
| marked with #3, #4, #5, #6, and especially #7 | | | | profitability of the household budget. |
| should not to be added to recycling bins. Teaching | | | | There is no way to place a monetary value on an |
| your children to consider these differences will | | | | environment that is safe and healthy, but your |
| strengthen their thinking and reading skills, as well | | | | children and your children's will certainly benefit |
| as protect the environment and the family | | | | from using recycling bins and understanding basic |
| budget. | | | | family finances. |
| Create Visual Prompts And Rewards | | | | |