By Jackie Edwards,
June 1s, 2017(Nyamilepedia) —- Living in Sudan brings children into contact with various forms of plants and animals on a regular basis. The wildlife here ranges from members of the notorious cat family, like the cheetah, leopard, or lion, to the tiniest insects, like the tsetse fly. Exploring the shorelines of the Nile River is a great showcase of the various forms of wildlife that thrive along the main Sudanese water source.
While some of these animals and plants are protected by nature areas, such as Dinder National Park in southeast Sudan and Radom National Park in the southwest, not all of the Sudanese wildlife are respected. It is essential that parents teach their children from a young age how important it is to cherish the natural wonders that they encounter each day. In turn, this will ensure that the next generation of conservationists have the knowledge and experience to care for the ever-changing world.
Turn Their World into a Conservationist’s ClassroomÂ
Teaching children about conservation does not have to be a taxing educational experience; rather, there are a number of ways to make learning about conservation fun. Leading by example is a great way to teach children that conserving wildlife will make for a better environment for all of us. Any time there is a piece of trash or mess in the environment, do your best to clean it up, and even have your children help the effort along. Emphasize the importance of a clean habitat for the animals and plants your child sees everyday.
In addition, many children will enjoy a system of reward when learning about wildlife conservation. Keeping a list in your home of all of the species your child has noted in their environment will treat learning as a game. Perhaps, for every ten species your child observes, you could reward your child by letting them stay up past their bedtime, or by having an extra treat with dinner. Children will respond enthusiastically to exploring the environment and observing new wildlife if they keep track of all of their findings. Every opportunity outdoors is an opportunity to teach.
Sustainable Fun & Games for the Family
Besides teaching children about conservation efforts, you can also play a variety of games and partake in fun activities that will help children see the natural world with a conservationist’s eye. Games as simple as I-Spy or Hide & Seek are great ways to urge children to interact with nature in a more careful, collected way. Pointing out qualities of the environment in a game of I-Spy will have your child noticing things that they may not have recognized on their own.
Any outdoor activity is also an easy way for children to learn to respect the environment. Taking children hunting near the desert or fishing along the Nile will bring them into direct contact with countless species. Knowing the endangered species in Sudan, you can share your knowledge with your children as soon as you come across species that need our care.
Making conservation a habit will pay off in a children’s life, as they will grow up to be adults with an eye for the protection of the environment. Living in Sudan means that each and every day is an opportunity to teach children about the wonders of the natural world, and it is essential that we do as much as we can to take advantage of such teachable moments.
The author of this article can be reached for more comments at jackie@ursamail.com
