Jackson’s mom hands her son an empty, washed yogurt container. “Put this in the blue box.”

Jackson likes to help and, at two-and-a-half, he is already familiar with his family’s practice of recycling. To Jackson recycling is fun. He loves watching the big recycling truck stop in front of house, and listening for the sound of clinking jars and tins as the driver swings out of the truck and tips his blue box into the truck.

Though Jackson does not yet know how the environment is shaping his health and future, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is working to help families and clinicians become more informed about the interplay between environmental and human health. They highlight that, “Children have greater risk of harm compared to adults for many reasons that are unique to each developmental stage.” (www.cape.ca/children) These environmentally impassioned physicians explain that children are especially susceptible to chemicals and pollutants because children’s organs and tissues are growing. Their physiological systems, designed to protect them from sickness, are still immature, and children’s need to explore their world through their senses increase the likelihood that harmful substances will seep into their bodies through their skin, nose, and mouth.

As parents, caregivers and educators, it’s sometimes difficult to know how to care for our children through caring for the earth. The solution may, in part, be twofold – continually seeking knowledge about environmentally-friendly practices at home, and intentionally nurturing respect and love for the environment within our children.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is only one source of valuable information about the environment. Information through their website can be accessed at www.cape.ca. The Canadian Child Care Federation also offers quick information on a variety of topics of interest to parents. Their resource Clean Air for Children draws attention to the prevalence of toxins in children’s lives through our use of cleaners, scented candles, air fresheners, and certain art supplies. http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/parents

Ideas for nurturing respect and love for the environment within children are also included among the wide range of topics found on the Canadian Child Care Federation website. “Growing a ‘Green’ Garden” and “Exploring Nature with Children” promotes the idea of adults becoming role models to children by adopting a childlike sense of wonder about bugs, rocks, worms, nests, and yes, even dandelions. They emphasize that being a science expert to your child is not nearly as important as affirming their curiosity about the natural world.

In wonder-filled activities we do together, children also learn new vocabulary, comprehension and observation skills –skills that are essential to literacy learning. When we help children read seed packages or feeding instructions for birdfeeders, or seek information about nature through magazines, books, or the internet we support their reading skills too. Jackson’s emerging reading skills are already evident. He recognizes the three-arrowed recycling symbol and understands its meaning.

Jackson’s mom doesn’t really like to pick up worms, and she is not always pleased with the yellow dandelions on her lawn, but she knows these things excite Jackson. She joins Jackson’s sense of wonder about the recycling truck, worms and dandelions. And when Jackson snuggles in for his bedtime story she reads him “In the Garden” by Peggy Collins. It’s about a little boy just like Jackson who loves the outdoors.

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Susan Ramsay is the Early Literacy Specialist for Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. You can contact her at 613-354-6318 (ext 32) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.