Early Learning Advice

Sustainable Practices At Journey Childcare

Sustainability education for childcare centres at Journey

No matter whether it is the food we eat, the clothes we wear, or the day-to-day activities that we participate in, sustainability has never been more important. Across the globe, companies and individuals are trying to reduce the impact they have on the environment, and incorporating sustainability education for childcare centres today is the key to a brighter tomorrow.

Here at Journey, our mission is to ensure that we can help put our young stars on the path to success, helping to create a learning environment that gives them the skills to grow. Of course, knowing the most environmentally responsible methods of living can be tough, so what are the best sustainable practices in childcare?

 

What are sustainable practices?

Sustainability education for childcare centres is a core part of any modern curriculum. Incorporating these qualities is essential in ensuring that children understand the importance of looking after the world that we live in.

Living a sustainable lifestyle focuses on ensuring that our actions do not harm the environment or other people. While its primary aim might be to protect the natural world, sustainable practices also focus on a range of important issues such as consumption, poverty, health, and community.

Teaching children sustainable practices early on is essential in helping to empower them to understand the importance of the world around us. These positive experiences are critical in creating a solid foundation that will set children on the path to success.

 

How to introduce sustainability to children

While there can be no denying that sustainability education for childcare centres is crucial, it can be tough to know the best ways to incorporate this into the curriculum. Here at Journey, our highly experienced team of educators are focused on giving our little stars the very best start to life.

Showcasing ways to become more energy-efficient and reduce waste is essential, and some of the best methods of incorporating sustainable practices in childcare include:

  • Saving energy by shutting off lighting, heating, and appliances.
  • Reducing waste by learning how to reuse and recycle.
  • Using food scraps to create compost to support community gardens.
  • Utilising reusable stationery, such as refillable whiteboard markers.
  • Creating closer connections with the local community.

 

Examples of activities to boost sustainability in childcare

The importance of sustainable living is becoming increasingly more important, and it is never too early to start teaching children the importance of caring for the environment and the responsibility we all have. Children of all ages can benefit from a greater connection with nature, and there are many activities that can help youngsters to boost their sustainability, including:

Sustainable practices in childcare
Reading relevant stories

Reading storybooks that introduce difficult topics such as climate change can be a great way to start the conversation and get youngsters thinking about living more sustainably.

Sustainable practices in childcare
Spend time outdoors

Another great activity to boost sustainability is to spend time outdoors in nature. Going on bushwalks or walking along the beach gives children a chance to connect with the natural beauty of the world and understand the importance of looking after it.

Sustainable practices in childcare
Recycle

Teaching children to recycle from a young age ensures that it becomes second nature as they grow up. Understanding how our waste, particularly single-use plastic, can cause problems is crucial in reducing the impact we have on the environment.

Sustainable practices in childcare
Start a vegetable garden

Another great way to teach children the importance of sustainability is to start a vegetable garden. Planting seeds, caring for plants and enjoying a delicious meal from the ingredients they have grown helps children to understand the concept of where our food comes from and its importance.

Sustainable practices at home
Openly discuss sustainability

Another great way to boost sustainability is to openly talk about it at home. Talking with your children about the waste we throw away, the food scraps we leave behind, and the electricity we waste by keeping devices on standby can make them more aware of the impact we all have on the environment.

 

Sustainable practices at Journey

We are committed to caring for our planet and role modelling this behaviour for our children. We reflect on our daily practice to ensure our tasks are carried out as efficiently as possible.

Every Journey centre has a sustainability plan:

  • Where possible we limit the amount of paper we use and instead source online alternatives like:
    • Storypark
    • Kindynow
    • QikKids
    • Kiosk
  • We grow our own veggies and herbs that are used in our meal prep and also shared with families.
  • Undertake practices that preserve our natural resources.
  • Engage children in projects that teach them about the planet’s importance and how we can protect it.
  • Ensure our outdoor program promotes sustainability.

 

Sustainable practices at Journey Early Learning Ocean Grove:
Journey Early Learning Ocean Grove – Our sustainability hero, Chef Janine picks the strawberries straight from the kindergarten’s garden. And with a quick rinse under the tap and prep work, they are ready for Kinder children to enjoy with their picnic lunch.

 

 

Journey Early Learning Wallan: Sustainability education for childcare centres
Journey Early Learning Centre Wallan – The Nursery children were introduced to recycled materials and boy was it fun and messy.

 

 

Sustainable practices at Journey Early Learning Sebastopol
Journey Early Learning Centre Sebastopol – Recycler ‘Aaron’ from Ballarat Council popped out to Journey Sebastopol to educate and inspire the next generation about the bin ecosystem.

 

 

Journey Early Learning Corinda: Sustainability education for childcare centres
Journey Early Learning Corinda – While our Kindergarten children played outside in the rain/water area, they recycled the water they were playing in by collecting the water in buckets and giving our plants a good watering.

 

 

Journey Early Learning Whittlesea: Sustainability education for childcare centres
Journey Early Learning Whittlesea – Choosing the correct bin for our rubbish is important. For National Recycling Week, the children learnt what rubbish goes in which bin, with a sorting activity assisted by educator Mel.

 

 

 

Start teaching your children today

Sustainability education for childcare centres is becoming increasingly important, and here at Journey, our mission is to help youngsters enjoy the very best start in life. We believe that you are never too young to start learning about sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, and our experienced teachers and staff showcase these important values through our engaging and fun early learning programs.

We work with families to showcase the best activities and methods to educate youngsters on the importance of environmental responsibility. We believe children learn best when they are having fun, so our programs and activities are designed to be as engaging and entertaining as possible.

Want to start your child on the journey to sustainable living? Get in touch with our team today!

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