The New York Culture: Little guardians: children protecting our planet

How to Educate New Generations to Preserve Nature and Build a Sustainable Future

Picture a child’s smile as they plant a tree or the curiosity in their eyes as they learn about animal life. Teaching children to preserve the environment is more than a task—it’s a commitment to the planet’s future and the happiness of future generations. Shall we discover how parents, educators, and all of us can inspire little ones to become guardians of nature, using science, art, and education?

Preserving the environment is one of the greatest priorities of our time, and children are key players in this movement. Teaching them to care for nature not only protects the planet but also fosters their emotional and cognitive development. Recent studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology (2024) show that children exposed to sustainability-related activities develop greater empathy and a sense of responsibility. From an early age, they can learn that small actions, like recycling or saving water, have a huge impact. The Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, particularly the book Preserving the Environment, emphasizes that happiness is tied to respecting nature. The book’s engaging story teaches that caring for the planet is also caring for oneself and others, a lesson that resonates with both children and adults.

Motivational Quote: “The child who learns to care for the world grows up to transform it.” – Maria Montessori

Environmental education begins with an emotional connection between children and nature. Practical activities, such as planting a seedling or observing birds, spark curiosity and love for the environment. An inspiring example is Malala Yousafzai, who, while focused on education, has always advocated for sustainability as part of human well-being. The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT) methodology, created by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, uses puppets to teach children about environmental preservation in a playful way. In Preserving the Environment, the characters show how simple actions, like protecting rivers and forests, can be fun and meaningful. A study in Child Development (2023) indicates that children who engage in hands-on nature activities are more likely to adopt sustainable behaviors as adults.

Inspiring Story: As a young boy, Nelson Mandela participated in community activities in his village, learning from elders to respect the land. This connection with nature shaped his vision of a fairer world, showing that caring for the environment is also an act of care for humanity.

The Mindset, Action, and Theater (MAT) methodology, part of Antônio Carlos’s Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA), combines critical thinking, practical action, and theater to engage children in environmental preservation. For example, staging stories about the importance of recycling, as in the book Garbage, Selective Collection, and Recycling from the collection, helps children internalize sustainability concepts. Studies in Environmental Education Research (2024) show that artistic methods, like theater, increase children’s engagement with environmental themes by up to 35%. For educators, using MAT in the classroom can turn lessons into interactive experiences, while parents can apply these ideas at home, encouraging play that connects children with nature.

Practical Tip: Organize an ecological “treasure hunt” with children. Hide recyclable items in the backyard and teach them how to sort them for selective collection, drawing inspiration from the book The 5Rs – The Right Way to Say ‘Good Morning’ to the Environment.

The Theater Movement (ThM) methodology by Antônio Carlos emphasizes bodily movement as a form of expression and learning. Activities like dances inspired by nature or performances about animal life, as in the book The Tree Makes the Environment Smile, help children connect physically with the environment. A study in Frontiers in Psychology (2024) reveals that activities combining movement and environmental narratives improve attention and empathy in children. For parents, incorporating ThM can be as simple as taking kids to a park and mimicking animal movements, turning the experience into a moment of learning and fun.

Curiosity Box: Children and Nature
A study in Nature Sustainability (2023) showed that children who spend at least 20 minutes a day in natural environments, like parks, have stress levels 15% lower than those who don’t. Activities like those proposed in TBMB make this contact even more meaningful by combining art and environmental education.

The Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection is a powerful tool for educators and parents. The book Preserving the Environment uses engaging stories to teach that happiness depends on a healthy planet. The narrative shows how collective actions, like protecting forests or reducing waste, are essential for sustainability. A practical example is Rosa Parks, who, beyond her civil rights activism, supported community environmental initiatives, showing that social and environmental justice go hand in hand. A study in Global Environmental Change (2024) highlights that children educated about sustainability from an early age are 40% more likely to influence family decisions, such as adopting selective collection.

Motivational Quote: “Education is the key to unlocking children’s potential to change the world.” – Anísio Teixeira

Teaching about sustainability also promotes children’s cognitive and emotional development. The MBPT methodology uses puppets to create narratives that make complex concepts, like the impact of waste on the environment, accessible and fun. In the book Garbage, the Environment’s Supervillain, children learn about pollution’s harms in a playful way, facilitating learning retention. A study in the Journal of Educational Psychology (2024) shows that narrative methods, like those used in MBPT, increase children’s comprehension by 30%. For educators, incorporating puppets into lessons about recycling can turn learning into an adventure, while parents can use these stories to spark conversations at home.

Inspiring Story: Desmond Tutu, a champion of social justice, promoted environmental education in South African communities, teaching children to plant trees as a symbol of hope. His approach shows how environmental preservation can be an act of unity and renewal.

Active participation in environmental projects is essential for fostering a sense of agency in children. The book Ten Ways to Help Preserve the Environment offers practical ideas, like saving water or planting trees, that children can apply daily. A study in Child Development Perspectives (2023) indicates that children involved in community projects, like school gardens, develop greater self-esteem and responsibility. The MAT methodology encourages practical actions, such as organizing cleanup drives, that connect children with their communities. Parents and educators can use these ideas to create simple projects, like a home garden, that teach children the value of caring for the planet.

Practical Tip: Draw inspiration from the book With Basic Sanitation, the Environment is Happy and teach children to save water. Create a game at home where everyone tracks their shower time, rewarding those who use less water in a fun way.

Art, as proposed in the Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA), also helps children process emotions related to the environment, such as concern about pollution. The book The Day the White-Spotted Owl and the Boiled Potatoes Defeated Pollution uses humor and creativity to show how small actions can tackle big problems. A study in Arts in Psychotherapy (2024) highlights that artistic activities, like those in ThM, reduce environmental anxiety in children, helping them feel empowered. For parents, organizing storytelling sessions based on the collection can turn worries into hope, while educators can use these narratives in school performances.

Curiosity Box: The Impact of Trees
A single tree can absorb up to 150 kg of carbon dioxide per year, according to Environmental Science & Technology (2024). Teaching children to plant trees, as suggested in The Tree Makes the Environment Smile, is a practical way to show how they can make a difference.

Finally, educating children about environmental preservation is an investment in the planet’s future and the happiness of coming generations. As Lev Vygotsky said, “learning is a social process,” and teaching sustainability builds a connection between children, nature, and the community. The stories of Malala, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu show that small actions can transform the world. The Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection and Antônio Carlos dos Santos’s methodologies offer practical and inspiring tools for parents and educators. Why not start today, planting a seed—literal or figurative—with the children around you? Together, we can create a greener, more hopeful future.

Inspiring Story: Malala Yousafzai, beyond her fight for education, supports reforestation projects in vulnerable communities, showing that caring for the environment is part of a fairer world. Her story inspires children to act with courage and purpose.

Acesse os livros de Antônio Carlos dos Santos na amazon.com ou na amazon.com.br

Click here.

https://www.amazon.com/author/antoniosantos