Ecology as a theme in children's books
The contribution of the fairy tale
A children's book can inspire and make children aware of ecology. So even a fairy tale about ecology is able to introduce children to the "study of the natural house".
Exciting their imaginations, they keep children interested, helping them to understand various phenomena that surround them. They develop values/personality that accompany them in their adult life. Everything that surrounds us interacts with us. In this way, we learn to respect ourselves when we care for the environment. We understand that we must take care of nature, through our concern for all people.
A fairy tale can affect children emotionally, they identify with the hero of the fairy tale, they want with the power of their imagination to enter the fairy tale and bring everything to 'finish' (in order)! They are still developing their inner world when we mainly refer to functional fairy tales, instead of being satisfied only with the transfer of knowledge as far as environmental issues are concerned. An allegory in the book makes it easier for children to understand various issues, such as human interactions in relation to the natural environment.
An example of such a fairy tale is 'Perivantoulis' from iWrite publications.
Fairy tales, combined with other activities, are helpful tools to bring children closer to ecology. In other words, to develop their contact with the natural environment, i.e. their home. Actions in conjunction with other agencies such as fire brigade, animal welfare organizations, botanists, marine scientists, reinforce the message. An indicative example could be the children's contact with forest animals, in their natural environment, in collaboration with zoologists.
Actions for contact with nature
Through the excursions in the forest as well as in arable land, the children will have the opportunity to see the benefits of nature such as the shade, the fruits and the tranquility that it offers us. Even to take care of her, such as collecting any garbage. Lifeguards can guide our little friends around their gardens, encouraging them to participate in the collection of fruit, the care of plants and trees. To understand that each fruit has its own harvest season and that any intervention in nature such as pesticides, fertilizers and others may have negative effects on human health.
To bring the children closer to nature, people from the medical field would be useful. As Hippocrates, known to this day throughout the world as the "father of Medicine", said that man should find time to spend time in nature, for health reasons. In fact, he examined the patient's environment as part of his therapeutic process. Perhaps, actions aimed at the benefits of nature in human health could be carried out with the cooperation of teachers and doctors. Visits to hospitals, natural but also in the urban environment for this purpose, are some examples! From the aforementioned activities, children will be able to see the parallel between a fairy tale and reality. Visiting areas that have already burned, marine areas that have already suffered pollution can awaken children to care more about their home, the Earth.
Inspiring respect for nature
Respecting nature means respecting myself because nature is my home… or rather our home! We all come from a single ancestor (according to astrobiology experts) and we are connected. Children are an important part of society.
The only category of people who have no malice, they know how to create, through play.
Let's also become more creative adults, let's care for man and nature. In this way we respect ourselves. No one wants to live in a place where pollution causes health problems.
Respecting nature means caring for my fellow man and vice versa. As a part of nature, every human being needs not to be exposed to any kind of 'small' or 'big' exploitation. Starting from ourselves, because we also give to our fellow human beings, what we have for ourselves. Let's take care of nature by taking care of our fellow man! On planet earth we are all passers-by!
Find the children's book on ecology "Perivantoulis" by iWrite Publications