Negative attitudes towards nature
A lack of positive experiences in nature during childhood can negatively shape a child’s attitudes towards the environment into discomfort, dislike, and fear. These children may express negative emotions, disgust, and a sense of threat when being exposed to natural elements.
Disconnectedness from nature
They may also feel disconnected from nature. The lack of positive attitudes towards nature, in turn, has shown to weaken children’s ecological literacy as they are less interested in learning and understanding more about the earth. This “de-naturing” of children also weakens their stewardship of the natural world, where they may express a lack of care and concern for the natural environment.
Want to improve your child’s environmental stewardship? Here are some ways you can teach your child to care about the environment.