Parents Talk!

Kids are pushing their parents to go green! In households across the country, kids are going after their parents for environmental offenses, from using plastic cups to serving non-grass-fed beef at the dinner table.Many of these young people are getting more explicit messages about becoming eco-warriors at school and from popular books and movies. This year’s global-warming documentary ‘Arctic Tale,” for instance, closes with a child actor telling kids, “If your mom and dad buy a hybrid car, you’ll make it easier for polar bears to get around.”

The influence kids have is powerful and that can be a good thing. For example, a couple in California knew replacing the roof on their home would be expensive. But they hadn’t planned to spend an extra $15,000 on soar panels! For that, they have their 8-year old son to thank.

Some messages to kids can go a little too far. Another mother from California took her 4-year-old son to see “Arctic Tale.” At bedtime he asked, “Mom, do you think they’ll have ice next year?”

Young people are learning more and more about environmental stewardship and the wise use of natural resources. Their parents are becoming students and the more families talk about these energy issues, the more energy wise the family will become. As one father said, “After routinely being lectured by my son in the backseat of the minivan about how reducing energy consumption could help save the planet, I did some research about energy savings, and am proud we are now trying to do our part.”

Taken from a Wall Street Journal article by Ellen Gamerman.

Click here to check out some energy careers in Utah.

Visit www.buildgreenschools.org for information on how to go green at school!