"Gift Him a Plastic-Free Future on His Birthday!,,

As our children grow up, it is now a fact that we have to make sustainable choices with their future in mind.

We did not grow up with such unlimited consumption. Now, as we raise them in a frenzy of consumption, we have to think about the water, soil, living space and most importantly their happiness.

The child of a conscious and wonderful mother and father like you will be a well-educated young person in the future. When you ask, “Why did you spend so much plastic for a two-year-old's birthday?” we will answer, “To make you happy.”

n the future, as we face a life full of increasing environmental problems, climate crisis, difficult access to clean food and health struggles, our children will hold us to account if we fill their memories with the plastics they are trying to get rid of.

Even if it is not 250 balloons, he will be happy for a lifetime to have a great time with you, to run in good health, to get excited about small things, and he will always come out stronger from all the difficulties he experiences thanks to this stance you provide him.

What can I change all by myself?

Having a positive impact on society, raising one child with kindness and love for nature is like thousands of seeds.

A beautiful Indian proverb says:

"Everything is a circle. Each of us is responsible for our own actions. It all comes back to us."

Believe me, nature will not forget the water you cut for her, the animal you rescued, she will respond to you with abundance and happiness, and she will open her heart to you in difficult times.

Please remember that a few hours of our happiness destroys their future with hundreds of balloons, packaging, plastic ornaments and disposable chemicals.

Let our children grow up much happier and with a love for nature with just one balloon.

What can we do?

We need to plant the love of nature in him in the best way possible. It is very easy to raise his awareness and engage him in the game with small tasks.

Most of us have to raise our children in big cities, far away from nature and green spaces. I would like to support you in getting them into the game with a few small suggestions.

Let's Look to the Sky

The sky is one of the most beautiful ways to connect with the cosmic universe in which the child lives.

For him, it is a whole universe where he encounters light, air, rain and birds. Looking at the sky is hope, freedom and light for children, as it is for all of us.

It is also a wonderful window into imagination.

Noticing the wind, pointing to the stars, greeting the birds are signs of the beautiful bonds they have established.

You can look at the sky together, write stories with the clouds and leave it to imagination.

Awareness of nature and living things

Everywhere I see activities like cutting branches and picking flowers. What we say and what we do should be one, so that we become leaders that our children will follow with admiration. We can teach them to love flowers without plucking them, then we will make them realize that they are also living beings. By teaching them what we need most these days, to respect every living thing and its right to life, we can support them to grow up as individuals with self-respect.

When our children see a flower, even in the concrete of their apartments, they are excited to go and pet and smell it. Planting a tiny flower together is sometimes an unforgettable memory for the child.

Great celebrations are possible without plastic.

For example, when they learn that every time they run the faucet unnecessarily, this water is also water for the fish, that we share it and that they will be sad if we use too much, their perspective on water use starts to change.

And of course, another good example is garbage. When they see garbage on the ground and you pick it up and throw it in the trash can, it becomes a wonderful mark for them for a lifetime.

Great celebrations are possible without plastic.

Fabric, wool and paper can be used to make ornaments for every celebration. You can even keep them and leave them with a lasting memory.

You will realize how good natural materials are for your child. When the celebration box comes out, he will know that a wonderful day is coming, and if you explain that he is serving nature and the life of other living beings, his life will be filled with purpose and joy.

You can put the money you would have spent on harmful ornaments into a fund and use it for nature support projects where you can spend time together.

You can go to feed animals and support stray animals.

Again, if you want to get support for these ornaments, I am always ready to support.

I wish you to enjoy the transformation of a child into his/her own hero when goodness is the goal and responsibility is given to him/her.

Pınar Gürkan Toksöz

Child Development Technician

Creative Drama Leader

Montessori Instructor