As kids grow curiouser and curiouser, we’re always on the lookout for ways to nurture their development. Something to teach that isn’t so common? Composting!
We’ve put together some of the fun and fundamental learnings that can occur through simply involving kids in compost. As we know, the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow and composting (with the help of Monty of course) can help support children’s learning of science, sustainability and technology.
The Science of Compost
You may be wondering where exactly the science lies in composting and how a kid can even understand it. Well, simply put, an essential part of compost is that it requires oxygen because the creepy crawlies who make compost possible, need to breathe it in to do their job properly. That job is to eat our scraps for energy to build up their strength and then voila! Months later, you have nutrient-rich and healthy soil.
This newfound knowledge of living organisms can blossom into a deep passion for biology and allow children to fully embrace their scientific curiosity from a young age.
The Sustainability of Compost
Sustainability is another cool, creative compost teaching and can be an extremely helpful stepping stone for children to understand more about our planet, environment and climate change. Here are a few examples of how kids can be introduced to this knowledge.
For those ones who are ripping up the garden and bringing worms into the house, understanding the sustainability in compost will nourish that explorative nature and hopefully keep the garden beds safe from their roaming hands.
For the kids with a green thumb, they can make their own soil from the end product of compost that is richer for plant growth as it improves the structure, porosity and density of soils. This compost fertiliser also prevents soil-borne plant diseases and degrades certain pollutants.
For the kids who have eyes bigger than their stomachs, there are quite a few facts that could save you dollars and improve your young ones’ understanding of waste. All those food scraps that go into the bin end up in landfills that generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By composting that wasted meat and veg dinner they didn’t finish however, these emissions are significantly reduced.
Finally, for those kids who always ran the charity fundraisers at school for Orangutans and other animals on the brink of extinction? Well then, compost is really going to excite them. This is because composting actually helps to aid reforestation, wetlands restoration and habitat revitalisation efforts by improving contaminated soil.
The Technology of Compost
Another vital learning for kids is that of STEM and, funnily enough, engineering and technology is actually a natural extension of creating a compost pile.
Constructing a compost system requires working knowledge of measurements and interconnected technical and material systems. This knowledge can be further developed with technology such as our Monty Monitor and Mobile App. Kids not only gain hands on knowledge of composting, they can also further develop their technology skills.
Bringing Compost to the Curriculum
But what about how we’re teaching them?
Something I'm sure we're all familiar with is the addictive power of the internet to the youth. Whether it’s their smartphone, tablet or computer, the big question is “how do we get them to take a break from their screens?”.
Well, that’s where compost comes in again by engaging your kids with some hands-on learning!
In school and at home, being hands-on is the best way to implement a technique called “kinesthetic” learning. How it works is that when children are involved in physical activities rather than just being talked at, it helps them gain a better understanding of what you're trying to teach them.
So when you compost with your kids, they're learning it in the best possible way.
That’s why we’re actually now offering a FREE workshop and lesson to help schools bring composting into their curriculum. If you know any educators who might be keen, get in touch through our email here or socials and make sure to sign up to our mailing list for more compost content.