Educating Through Composting: A Green Habit that Transforms Families
- Marianela de Sousa
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Join our family to give your child the best foundation for the best future — schedule a guided visit to ABCnMe.
Composting is more than an environmental practice; it is a transformative experience for families and a powerful tool for children’s development. By engaging in this process, children not only learn about sustainability but also develop skills like responsibility, patience, and a deep connection to nature. Simultaneously, families discover in composting a way to strengthen their bonds and work together toward a shared goal that spans generations.
Why start educating through composting from an early age?
Since last year, our children have participated in visits to the Santa María Compostaje project in Panama City, Panama —a space that not only practices composting but also educates families about its importance and potential. These visits have given us the chance to experience firsthand how a simple activity can become a powerful educational tool and a source of family connection.
For parents, this practice provides an opportunity to teach fundamental values through hands-on experiences. From identifying waste to feeding the compost, every step of the process fosters meaningful learning and builds habits that will have a lasting impact on children’s lives.
To explore how to begin this practice at home and leverage its educational potential, we interviewed María del Pilar Betancourt, General Coordinator of the Santa María Compostaje project and ABCnMe mom, who shared her insights on how this practice transforms not only children but entire households.
Join our family to give your child the best foundation for the best future — schedule a guided visit to ABCnMe.
Composting and Children: Insights from an Expert
Why should we compost?
Composting is essential because it allows us to halve the amount of waste sent to landfills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that warm our planet. According to Tchobanoglous, Theisen, and Vigil (1993), approximately 50% of urban solid waste is organic and compostable. Transforming this waste not only reduces garbage but also cuts emissions of gases like methane, which contribute to global warming.
What impact does composting have on children?
It’s wonderful. The most beautiful part is seeing how they make it a part of their lives. Sometimes I meet them on the street, and they remember everything: they know what waste should return to the earth and why it nourishes it. For them, caring for the planet feels natural because they learn through touching, smelling, and participating. These lessons stay with them forever.
How can we start composting at home or school?
Here are some options:
Simplified process for at-home composting:
Purchase a home composter for use at home or in the school garden.
Teach children to identify waste for composting, such as fruit peels or pencil shavings.
Invite them to feed this "planet food tank" with those materials.
Use the compost: Show how to use the compost as fertilizer for houseplants or the school garden, helping them grow stronger and healthier.
Learn online: Today, platforms like YouTube or social media offer easy access to learning resources.
Consider a collection service: Services like Santa María Compostaje can simplify the process.
What practical activities can engage children?
Let them deposit waste after meals.
Color drawings that show what can go into compost.
Recognize and sort everyday waste.
Plant a seed using compost as fertilizer and nurture it.
What mistakes do we make when teaching composting?
Sometimes we use overly technical explanations. The key is to keep it simple and magical: what comes from the Earth should return to it.
Any memorable anecdotes?
Many! But the most impactful moments are when the message is clear. Even much later, children remember that “the peel goes to the planet” or that “compost is food for the plants.” They live it joyfully and hands-on. That’s priceless.
What materials are needed?
Just a container for collecting waste, a small shovel, and, most importantly, a lot of love for the planet. Often, the most important part is not the equipment but the willingness to create something positive together.
How can we inspire more families and schools?
By example. If we compost at home and share the practice with neighbors and schools, we plant a seed.
Sowing a Green Future as a Family
Composting is not just about caring for the planet; it’s an opportunity for families to work together, share meaningful experiences, and instill important values in children. Through simple actions like separating waste or using compost to nurture plants, parents teach responsibility and show that hands-on learning can be fun and enriching.
This habit turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. For children, every step of the process sparks curiosity, creativity, and a connection to nature. For parents, it’s a straightforward way to lead by example, showing that change starts at home and can be achieved as a team.
Start educating through composting today, with a small step: separate waste, find a composter, or involve your children in related activities. You’ll discover that beyond being a sustainable habit, composting is a way to create meaningful memories, strengthen family bonds, and teach values that will stay with your children for life.
Join our family to give your child the best foundation for the best future — schedule a guided visit to ABCnMe.
References:
Tchobanoglous, G., Theisen, H., & Vigil, S. (1993). Integrated solid waste management: Engineering principles and management issues. McGraw-Hill.
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