Your Child Will Learn
People can reduce, reuse, and recycle certain items to prevent waste
Here’s What to Do
- Create a chart on poster paper with 3 columns labeled reduce, reuse, and recycle
- Explain the definitions of reduce, reuse, and recycle
- Ask your child to list items in the home that can be reduced, reused, and recycled and
- Write names or draw pictures of these items on the chart and display the poster in your home as a reminder
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Sit together as a family in a distraction-free environment
ENGAGE
- Show a few examples of household items that can be reduced, reused, or recycled and explain what materials are needed from the natural world to make them (paper goods are made from trees, glass is made from sand, cans are made from metals)
- Ask your child, “how do you reduce, reuse, and recycle at school”?
ENCOURAGE
- Ask your child, “what does it mean to reduce our use of something”?
- Ask your child, “what are some things that we can reuse a few times before we throw it away”?
REFLECT
- Ask your child, “if we reduce, reuse, and recycle how does this help our environment?
Not Quite Ready
Begin by focusing on 1 item to reduce, 1 item to reuse, and 1 item to recycle for your child to develop their understanding
Ready for More
After a shopping trip, ask your child what items you purchased could be reduced, reused, and recycled
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will independently reduce, reuse, and recycle the items on the chart
Time to Complete
10-15 minutes
Materials Needed
Poster paper, marker, household items that can be reduced, reused, and recycled