Thriving Young Citizens

National Tree Day held at Stringybark Creek, Lane Cove North, was simply delightful this year! From the glorious July weather to the many happy families, singles and couples participating, the combination of local groups working together (Bushcare, Rotary, Stream Watch and us), topped off by a delicious, free barbecue, made it a great event. Brush turkeys were a bonus for the children, and Stream Watch educated us how to respect our local streams.

It’s just got to be good to have children planting native flora in a lovely, local, natural environment doesn’t it? Think of the inherent education happening here, the appreciation and care of nature, the ongoing interest and sense of achievement in the young plants, family role modelling as parents participate too, local people connecting.

Contrary to the dominant cultural norms of competition and consumerism, this activity was relaxed and non-competitive. It encouraged people to be contributors together for a public cause, rather than seeking personal gain. How much hands-on encouragement do our children and grandchildren receive to enable them to be good citizens, who truly care for others, their environment, as well as for themselves? It’s important to share our values with them and participate with them, while they are young and open to our input and modelling. Hence, they are more likely to adopt these healthy patterns for their own lives and their surrounding community.

There are Lane Cove groups and activities that lend themselves to families participating together, (including our ‘Walk and Wonder’ group and ‘Parents and Kids Cooking Fun’ groups), that help balance out the stress of the competitive, consumerist world today’s children have inherited. And the groups and activities are enjoyable for parents and grandparents too!

As the old proverb says: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it, (from The Bible, Proverbs 22:6).