The Parents Daily is your source for advice and information for rasing your kids.
Author: Wendy Mitchell Article source: http://www.articledeshboard.com/. Used with author's permission.
Whether it's playing in the park, visiting a zoo or just looking out a window, experts say there are plenty of everyday activities that can be used to teach children to respect the environment and wildlife around them.
The key is to make the lessons fun and to tie them to interests that kids already have.
For instance, if your child loves sharks, talk to him about oceans and how people can keep them clean. Or, have a favorite character help deliver the message with fun, interactive play. Fisher-Price's Go Diego Go! line offers a terrific collection of toys inspired by the Nick Jr. show "Go, Diego, Go!" In the show, Diego races to the rescue of animals and the environment. Try asking your children questions about why it's important for Diego to help his animal friends and what we can do to help ours.
There are also toys, including Fisher-Price's Diego Rescue a Friend Assortment, and Diego Animal Caller, that let children make animal sounds or pretend to rescue baby jaguars, elephants, lions, spider monkeys, maned wolf pups and spectacled bears. There's even the Diego Mobile Rescue Unit that includes everything kids need to help Diego rescue his animal friends-a kid-tough toy truck, a base of operations, complete with mission post and veterinary center, and a launch pad with airstrip and airplane.
Parents can also share these tips with their kids to help them be an Animal Rescuer, just like their hero, Diego:
• Respect Nature-Animals and plants need their space. When you see plants and animals, look, but don't touch. Instead, get a closer look at nature with your binoculars, camera or by drawing what you see.
• Create a Habitat-You can create healthy and safe homes for animals right in your backyard. Help your family and friends plant trees and flowers in the yard to serve as shelter for small animals, or build and hang a bird feeder.
• Clean up a Park-Everyone can work together to keep environments clean. As an Animal Rescuer, you can get your parents and a group of friends together and head to your community park. Give each helper a garbage bag and gloves, and send everyone out on a treasure hunt to pick up paper, cans and other litter.
• Reduce Waste-Animal Rescuers help save water, too. Always turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and after washing your hands. If you do, you'll save water and energy, since it takes a lot of power to pump that water out.
• Transform Your Trash-Give paper, plastic and glass materials to an adult to be recycled. Or get creative with your trash. Wrap a friend's birthday gift in the Sunday comics section or store your crayons in an empty coffee can.
For more information and ideas, visit www.fisher-price.com.
Kids' favorite characters can help them learn important lessons about rescuing animals and protecting the environment.
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