Time to be Captain Planet

Want your kids to fight global warming and save the environment? Here's how to get them going

1 BE INNOVATIVE.
If your child can't stop scribbling at every possible surface, fill your child's table with used printed paper and empty cereal boxes. They make for great scribbling surfaces and give complete freedom to your child's creative instincts.

2 WATER THERAPY
During monsoons, place empty container or a bucket in the balcony and watch your child's excitement as the small drops of rain fill it up to the brim. The same collected water can then be used to sail small paper boats or even water plants in the garden.

3 ON THE VIGIL
Get your kids involved. Make them in charge of checking if all the lights and fans are off when there's nobody in the room. Moreover, give them the authority to fine you, in case you forget to switch them off. This will not only make kids vigilant but also teach them the importance of saving power.

4 BEST OF WASTE
Play with waste. Get your kid and his friends together and arrange a treasure hunt in your locality. The one who is able to collect the most number of waste plastic bags and cans will be the winner. This will not only clean the neighbourhood but also teach them the importance of keeping your surroundings clean.

5 NEW CREATION
Is your kid asking for a new toy? Well, then collect your trash, put all of it in a box, get a bottle of glue and ask your kid to make the toys they want. Brownie points if they make something out of the box and innovative.

They may not come up with something interesting every time but there's nothing to lose. It will teach your kid that even the smallest thing, after it’s been used, can be utilised for something else.

6 LIGHTS OFF
Once a week, have no electricity days. These are the days when you voluntarily switch off your power and engage the kids in playing games that do not require electricity. This will make sure your child doesn't take electricity power for granted and will also give them the opportunity to explore new and varied interests, something that they may have not known otherwise.

7 GET IT EXCHANGED
Kids grow up real fast, don't they? So, get together with your neighbours once a month and organise a kid's clothes exchange program.

The logic is simple. Instead of letting the clothes go waste, you exchange them. You give away outgrown clothes to those who can wear it and you take clothes that in turn fit your kid. It's easy on the wallet and teaches your kid to save rather than splurge.