EcoKids: Raising Children Who Care for the Earth

by Daniel D. Chiras

To forge a sustainable future, we need citizens who care for the earth. We need citizens who understand that planet care is the ultimate form of self-care. But we also need generations who live according to their values and convictions and who can effect positive change in their lives and the lives of others. Because public schools and the popular media cannot be counted on to produce an Earth-friendly citizenry, the task falls to parents. Yet even aware parents often lack the understanding and resources to take on such a task. EcoKids addresses this gap by presenting a coherent plan that will help parents foster love for nature, teach children the importance of environmental protection and promote environmental values and inspire action—actions that will last a lifetime. A hopeful and inspiring guide for parents, topics covered include ways Avoid gloom and doom in favor of positive solutions
Foster love and empathy for nature
Develop environmental values
Put values into action
Help children discover the roots of problems and be part of lasting solutions
Walk the talk
Counter the consumer culture, starting in your own home and community
Generate hope and combat apathy Each chapter includes an inspiring case study of a child who’s making a difference, short pieces that highlight serious problems such as global warming, along with positive solutions that can be read aloud to children, and activities for children. A resource guide lists helpful books, articles, videos and organizations. Dan Chiras is the father of two boys and the author of over 20 books on environmental issues and sustainability. He teaches courses on renewable energy, green building and sustainability at Colorado College. His free time is spent mountain biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, playing music and gardening with his boys.

Genres: Parenting, Ecology

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Dan has spent much of the past 30 years studying sustainability and applying what he has learned in solar energy, natural building, and green building to his residences, and most of the last ten plus years sharing the practical knowledge he has gained through writing, lectures, slide shows, and workshops.
Dan Chiras paid his last electric bill in June of 1996. It is not that he has disavowed the use of electricity and modern conveniences, but rather that he has turned to the sun and wind to meet his family's needs.

Reviews

[Joshua Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful resource for parents who want to help raise their kids in a sustainable, mindful and eco-friendly way. It's packed full of ideas for building an eco-conscious home and community alike! I only wish this book focused more on the animal agricultural impact on the environment and how not eating animals can not only be one of the best sustainable actions for us to take, but a moral one as well. Overall, loved this book!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay so i am generally a little liberal with my five-star ratings but this one actually really truly deserves it! in fact i would give it 6 stars if i could.
i don't have kids; i just picked this book up because it was 3 bucks and i liked the first few paragraphs i read. i am very glad i did! as you may have noticed i have been pretty into the non-fiction "green" books lately. many books that fall under this category are quite dark and foreboding, but ecokids manages to provide the reader with a sense of hope and excitement about the future of human life on this planet. my favorite part of the book was when Chiras was describing a field lecture he gave to his college students. he pointed to a tree and asked the students what it was. of course they all started naming off genus and species titles, but Chiras shook his head and asked them to be more general. students threw out answers like "tree" and "plant" but were still coming up wrong. the students were completely stumped and finally Chiras explained that the tree he was pointing at was an oxygen-producer. AKA the thing that takes our respiratory waste and turns it into breathable air. we need trees to breath and survive. so when we cut down trees in massive rampages of deforestation for the pursuit of wealth...what are we really doing to ourselves? it's insane how far removed we have become from the roots of the life-cycles that have kept us alive on this planet for thousands of years.
i think the only thing i would change about this book is the title because it is misleading - this book is for everyone, not just people with kids!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry. Good info for the most part, depending on where you are in the sustainability spectrum. I'm pretty far along and I'm not sure how good his tips would be to your every day person... The most inspiring part of the book were the stories in each chapter of the kids who were making a difference.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book in that I felt like I was not alone in my quest to limit media's influence in our family's life. I already knew a lot of the info in the book but there were some ideas that were new to me.

[Lianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love some of the ideas the author gives to inspire children to care for the earth...however; it seems I'm along way away from living in a house made of straw and total sustainability.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be on every parent's must read list! In fact, they should hand it out in hospitals to each new parent. Simply fabulous!