How to Teach Kids to Reduce Carbon Emissions: A Parent’s Guide

It's that time of year again! We just did our Climate Neutral Certified recertification (and in mind-blowingly amazing news: we've reduced our emissions by over 70% in the last year - I KNOW, our mini team is beyond thrilled - so more to come on this soon). When I shared the news with my kids, they started asking me a lot of questions about what carbon emissions even are, and it occurred to me: you don’t have to be a climate expert to teach your kids how to reduce their carbon emissions. In fact, making it part of your everyday family life can be really simple, totally fun, and legitimately empowering for them.

Here are some easy, practical tips to help your children understand what carbon emissions are and how they can play a part in keeping the planet green.

1. Set the Example

Kids watch what we do more than what we say, so leading by example is key. If they see you turning off lights, biking instead of driving, or bringing your reusable bag to the store, they'll start to get the message: “Hey, these small actions matter!”

When you make an effort to reduce your carbon footprint, your kids will notice and, without realizing it, start picking up the same habits.

2. Keep It Simple

For younger kids, start with basics like “saving energy” or “helping the earth.” You can explain carbon emissions in a way that’s easy to grasp. Try this: “When we use energy, like turning on the lights or driving a car, it can make dirty air that hurts our planet. But if we use less, we can help keep the air clean. Which should we do?”

Make it visual by showing pictures of animals, trees, and the earth to show what happens when the environment is healthy versus polluted. Relating it to things they love—like animals or trees—makes it feel more real for them.

3. Turn It Into a Game

Kids love games, and you can easily make reducing energy fun:

• Challenge them to turn off the lights when they leave a room.
• See if they can beat the clock and finish a shower in 5 minutes.
• Make it a race to unplug electronics when they’re done using them.

A bit of friendly competition or a small reward goes a long way, and soon, energy-saving becomes second nature to them.

4. Constantly Message the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The classic 3 Rs are a great starting point for kids:

• Reduce: Show them how buying less stuff (or choosing things with less packaging) helps keep the planet clean. You may notice that our organic kids clothes have negligible packaging, and zero plastic packaging. We're a good teaching tool!
• Reuse: Get creative with this one! Turn an old box into a toy house, or use a glass jar as a plant pot. My kids use our hangtags as bookmarks, and a good chunk of the boxes that come into the house become a craft, a toy, a storage facility, before eventually being recycled - so much in your everyday life can be used as an example here.
• Recycle: Teach them what goes in the recycling bin, and explain that recycling helps turn old stuff into new things, instead of letting it become trash.

5. Get Hands-On

Involve your kids in eco-friendly activities to make the lessons come to life:

• Plant a garden: Teach them that plants soak up carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. Plus, they’ll love watching their seeds grow!
• Compost together: Show them how food scraps can turn into rich soil instead of going to a landfill where they create harmful gases.
• Go for nature walks: Talk about how trees help clean the air and why it’s important to take care of our parks and forests.

These activities connect kids to nature and make them feel like they’re making a real difference.

6. Talk About Transportation

Cars, buses, and trucks are major sources of carbon emissions, but there are simple ways to reduce their impact. Teach your kids about transportation choices:

• Walk or bike: Encourage walking or biking when possible, even if it’s just for short trips.
• Carpool or use public transit: If you have to drive, explain how sharing a ride or taking the bus helps keep fewer cars on the road (and the air a little cleaner).
• Electric or hybrid vehicles: If you drive an electric or hybrid car, talk about how they produce fewer emissions than regular cars.

Kids will love the idea that their choices - like hopping on a bike instead of riding in a car - can help the planet!

7. Limit Screen Time for a Good Cause

With so much technology at their fingertips, it’s important to teach kids how using electronics also impacts the environment:

• Encourage them to power down devices when not in use.
• Explain how all the streaming, gaming, and internet browsing uses energy—and how small changes, like turning off unused devices, can save a lot of energy.

This helps them be mindful of how they use technology without making them feel guilty about enjoying it.

8. Introduce Renewable Energy

Kids are naturally curious about the world around them, so explain renewable energy in a way that captures their imagination. Tell them about solar power (energy from the sun) and wind power (energy from the wind) and how these sources are cleaner than using fossil fuels.

If possible, show them solar panels or wind turbines in your area - otherwise, look up videos to share with them how these amazing machines work.

9. Try Meatless Meals

This one might surprise you, but reducing meat consumption - even for just one meal a week - can lower carbon emissions. If your family eats meat, get your kids involved with organizing Meatless Monday, where you all cook a yummy vegetarian meal together. They’ll not only learn about the environment but also pick up healthy eating habits.

10. Get the Community Involved

It’s great to teach your kids about reducing carbon emissions at home, but why not take it a step further and get others involved? Encourage them to start a recycling program at school or organize a local park clean-up with friends.

By making it a group effort, they’ll feel empowered and proud to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

It Doesn't Need to Be Perfect - Just Be Done

Teaching your kids about reducing carbon emissions doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. By making it fun, relatable, and a small part of your everyday routine, you’re helping them develop habits that will stick with them for life.

And truly: every little action counts. Whether it’s turning off a light, taking a shorter shower, or recycling an old bottle, these small steps add up - and your littles will feel empowered, helping to protect the planet for future generations!