Over half of parents say their children know more about sustainability than they do
[Aug. 9, 2020: Country Living]
New research has revealed that 57% of parents think their children know more about sustainable living than they do, with recycling, global warming and pollution being the practises parents are least knowledgeable about.
According to research from HiPP Organic, almost three quarters (72%) of parents have been reprimanded by their children for unsustainable practises such as using too much water (30%), using too much plastic (32%) and not recycling correctly (30%).
The findings suggest that young people are so clued up that over half (52%) of all parents have been taught something new about the changing environment by their children, with kids becoming aware of environmental issues as young as 5-years-old (12%). Over half of all parents (52%) described their kids as being "passionate" about protecting the environment.
Lockdown has had a positive impact on some families, with almost half of parents (47%) saying they've developed a newfound appreciation for protecting the environment and the great outdoors, with 51% taking more of an interest in gardening.
More than three quarters (82%) also said their newfound love for the outdoors has caused them to think more about their personal impact on environmental issues such as recycling and air pollution.
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It was also discovered that 85% of parents admit public figures such as David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have taught them a great amount about sustainability and environmental practises.
The research was conducted to coincide with the release of HiPP Organic's plantable book Where The Little Things Are. It's a book about nature that grows into a nature habitat. The book, aimed at nought to three-year-olds, tells the story of three creatures – a worm, a bee and a hedgehog – and the role they play in helping the environment on HiPP's organic farms. After reading, parents and children can gently tear off the seeded paper cover and plant it in the garden.
The seeds within the paper have been specially chosen to grow into plants that help to sustain wildlife featured in the book – a great way to learn about the eco-system.
Stefan HiPP, CEO and one of the fourth-generation family owners of HiPP Organic, said: "We're delighted to see such a keen interest from children to learn how to protect the environment, and we hope that their 'pester power' will encourage parents to follow suit.
"We hope the book will encourage both adults and children to do what they can to protect the environment and preserve the nature around them. The special seeded paper allows families to discover and learn from nature first-hand and enables all family members to come together to discover more about nature in a fun and unique way."..... Read More
