Delhi Public School’s little ones celebrate the Earth
An Eastern Mirror Feature
Dimapur, April 25
Children of Delhi Public School of Dimapur town pitched in their bit to the global world conservation event, Earth Day, on April 22 with a slew of cultural program and environmental activities. The children prayed for the Earth and took a pledge to keep the green planet clean and green, the institution stated in a note issued to the media on Saturday.
‘All the members present vowed to support the initiative taken by United Nations to combat the menace of climate change. The children and the employees planted the trees in the school campus,’ the institution stated.
As with many other things in life, the home and the school are the two first places the child learns about conservation; flora and fauna, animals, civic sense, health and so on. The imperative to teach Naga children the rules of society and nature are the same: there is a need to show them by example.
Nagas were and primarily are by culture a pastoral people who were nurtured by traditions of agriculture and nature. While the Naga society of the eras until the ‘70s was primarily a wakening community, when the early ‘90s – and then the big one, the advent of the new age, the Millennium– came, it was with an unprecedented shock: computers and the internet, modern cars and modern paradigms of education ways of life that were formerly an appeal of the world outside. The proliferation of new knowledge, aided by new technological paradigms and social communications, began engaging the state of Nagaland and her community with new and often challenging schools of thought. Hence, the anomalies that now exist in the mindsets of most citizens in Nagaland about reconciling thought and action. For instance, the facilities most Nagas use are modern, but the way they use the facilities remains much to be desired.
Environment, climate change, wildlife conservation, earth conservation, and biodiversity conservation are some of the issues that remains pragmatically esoteric issues for most people – an educated people that has no qualms about hunkering endangered meat in their dinner; imported-car driving people that throws garbage everywhere, and so on.
Naga children, fortunately have a good start, thanks to new schools of thoughts and advanced curriculum, aided by a now more fluent knowledge and media. Schools and institutions are engaging relevant issues through literary ways, at least for now.
While, observing ‘functions’, and literary activities such as quiz events, essay and painting competitions, the imperative for now remains teach-by-example: Here are some ways Naga parents and teachers can teach Naga children to not only appreciate nature, environment and the Earth in general, but also sow the seed of concern in their psyche so as to teach them nurturance and conservation of the goodness earth has for humanity.
Appreciating Nature
Spend time outside, in a natural setting. If you live in a city or the suburbs, plan a trip to a nature preserve, wooded area or large park. Children can learn with all their senses if you discuss the Earth or read a book about the Earth in a place where they can witness proof of the plants and animals that rely on it.
The Earth Day network reported that 90 percent of children’s playtime in America is spent indoors. Changing this percentage is likely to make your children more aware of their environment. The more time you devote to discovery in a natural setting, the more likely your children are to take an interest in protecting nature. Consider taking nature walks, visiting an aquarium, flying kites or swimming in an outdoor pool or lake.
Encourage and teach eco-practices
Choose Earth Day topics and activities based on the age of your children. Children are able to comprehend things more fully as they get older. The following guidelines may be helpful in deciding what topics you should address:
Pre-schoolers require fairly simple, concrete ideas. Ideas such as saving water, planting flowers, recycling, or cleaning up trash outside works better than more abstract ideas like species extinction or climate change.
Teach children aged 5 to 11 can take on more complex projects. They may still thrive on simple Earth Day activities, they can also go deeper into ideas and do more complex ideas. For instance, they can measure how much water a bath takes versus a shower. Or learn the finer points of gardening. Or calculate how much money they will earn by redeeming 25 soda cans.
Pre-teens and teenagers can get deeper into sciences, activism, and community service projects. They can also be more self-directed, choosing interests and connecting them with the world as a whole. For example, your fashion-savvy teen can look into purchasing summer clothing from companies that use sustainable materials and processes. Or “upcycle” thrift-store finds to reduce waste. Or perhaps take old concert T-shirts and create fun throw pillows, rather than throw them out.
Set goals as a ‘green’ family
Make and set goals as a family. If a family decides they want to reduce car use, then make sure everyone has a bicycle, scooter or other alternative transportation source. Plan to take shorter showers and time everyone for a week or turn off lights and create a fine jar for any family member who does not.
Make it practical
Engage in reuse or recycling craft projects. Choose a project that is easy to accomplish for the child’s skill level. The following are great craft options:
Go through your recycling bins to look for containers, such as tin cans, that can be used as flower planters. Find soil and seeds to plant and grow your own herbs, flowers or vegetables. Egg shells and milk bottles can also be used, when their tops are removed.
Encourage children to bring a little of the outdoors indoors. Have them gather rocks and paint them for paper weights. You can also make ornaments out of pine cones or cover them in peanut butter or seeds for bird feeders.
