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Peninsula Kids
Home»Parenting Articles»Enlist your kids to help turn your household plastic free
Parenting Articles

Enlist your kids to help turn your household plastic free

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By Jessica Page

We get it. You’ve got kids, and excessive amounts of plastic is kind of part of the package. Throw in the school holidays, and you’d be forgiven for being sceptical when I tell you that you can wrap kids entertainment and sustainability efforts all into one potent, eco-friendly cocktail.

But hear me out: with just a little creativity, and a few strategically placed bribes, your little plastic toy tornadoes can become your household’s very own sustainability wardens.

Read ahead for 9 tried and tested tips for going (almost) plastic free with kids!

1. Make a game of sorting into coloured bins

One of the things I love about my almost three-year-old is that, between bouts of the terrible tantrums, she is endearingly eager to please and copy whatever I am doing.

If you have a little one who is similarly keen to mimic, profit from this. I have been known to let her ‘play’ with our recycling – with a bit of modelling (plastic here, paper there), and plenty of encouragement, you can have your own little recycling sorter! Bonus points for parents of two or more: make it a race or competition, and reward the winner.

2. Involve them in more sustainable purchasing decisions

There’s nothing like involving your kids to make them invested in the outcome. Make a special adventure out of going to the shops and letting them choose their own reusable bottle, sustainable lunchbox, re-usable tote bag and re-usable straw/cutlery set. Make older children accountable for remembering them when you go out. Imbuing these items with a special sense of ownership will help these eco habits stick!

3. Return and earn for pocket money

Incentives, when deployed wisely, can certainly be a force for good! My sister-in-law has a genius way for her 8-year-old to earn his pocket money and it’s called Return & Earn. Her son is responsible for collecting all the plastic containers from his family’s waste (and a fair few from the neighbours’ too!) and taking them to the local collection point, earning himself 10c per bottle. He’s made it quite the little side hustle, and now the state government pays his pocket money. Win-win!

4. Potty training

This may be one for the parents of younger bubs, and certainly requires their co-operation, but we promise it’s one of the most impactful things you can do for our planet! A staggering 3.75 million disposable nappies are used each day in Australia and New Zealand, and each one takes approximately 150 years to break down! With potty-training programmes that start as young as 18 months, starting your little one in the transition to the ‘big kid toilet’ might be one of the best ways of reducing your plastic impact.

5. Organise a toy swap

With a stretch of school holidays ahead, it can be tempting to head to the toy aisle to look for ways to entertain the kids. However, now is a perfect time to introduce the idea of give one – get one. If your children can donate one un-used toy to someone more needy, they can trade it in for something “new”, all via the local second-hand store. Alternatively, organise a toy swap amongst their friends and make a play-date out of it. That’s a win for the environment, and your back pocket!

6. Recycle and play arts and crafts

One man’s trash is a three-year-old’s treasure!

If your kids are old enough for basic arts and crafts, there are plenty of ways to turn your household’s plastic waste into awesome play-things. The ‘Recycle & Play’ movement has so many ideas (just search ‘recycle and play’ on Pinterest) or check out our ocean-themed e-book for plenty of ideas that use items you likely already have in the bin or store cupboard.

7. Bake and cook ahead with your little chefs

Snack wrappers are an absolute menace when it comes to environmental impact and are abundant in most of the households with kids I know. Involving your children in pre-making snacks and meals to take on the go is an excellent way of reducing the amount of plastic packaging you are sending to landfill, and a fun activity to boot. We love little egg frittata muffins as an amazing way of using up leftovers, but loads of other ideas are just a quick google away!

8. Join a beach clean-up

Whether you take the kids on a pre-organised clean up, or set one up yourself, this is an amazing way to get kids out in the great outdoors and start important conversations about conservation. A little competition never hurt anyone here. See which of your little beach scavengers can fill a bucket first, or who can collect the most bits of plastic, and reward the winner with an ice cream or hot treat.

9. Plant a veggie patch together

Despite the fact most fruits and vegetables come in nature’s own packaging, unfortunately our supermarkets do like to add a little extra plastic before they hit the shelves. Growing your own herbs, or even some basic veggies, is a great way of cutting down on unnecessary plastic, and a really fun way to involve the kids. Finding hardy crops that are quick and easy to grow is crucial when involving the kids. Something like a rosemary or basil plant, or some tomatoes if you have plenty of sunshine, is ideal. Plant as you come into Spring; reap the rewards next July!

So there you have it, entertaining the kids can be fun and eco-friendly too. Recruit your kids, and you’ll be amazed how many eco-habits will stick.


Jessica Page is a mum-of-one and founder of Little Fishy Swim – an innovative kids’ swimwear & toys company, based in Bondi Beach. With the aim of removing 1 million plastic bottles from the ocean by 2025, their adorable ocean-inspired swimwear and toys are made from recycled plastic bottles, with $1 per purchase returned to Australian ocean clean-up charities.

www.littlefishyswim.com.au

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2022

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Calling all Harry Potter fans!!! Excited to announce that due to Due to popular demand, Harry Potter™: The Exhibition at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick, has been extended until 30 November 2025. Harry Potter: The Exhibition captivates guests through powerful storytelling and cutting-edge interactive technology, inviting them to explore beloved moments from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, as well as the Tony® Award-winning stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Tickets for additional sessions are available NOW! https://melbourne.harrypotterexhibition.com/ @harrypotter_exhibition Harry Potter: The Exhibition
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Nano-Mals Hasbro is excited to introduce Nano-Mals, their brand-new line of interactive, pocket-sized electronic pets that are here to win hearts… literally! The handheld Nano-Mals team the appeal of digital pets with the fun play of fidget toys, creating a sensory experience specifically designed for today’s kids. Measuring just 6.9 cm, Nano-Mals are perfectly pocket-sized with an oversized personality. Nano-Mals are the ultimate gift for kids who love fidget toys, animals, and interactive digital fun. With unlimited ways to care, style, and connect, this new range is set to be the must-have mini pet of the year. These collectibles are available now in major retailers including Big W, Target, and independent toy stores. RRP: $25.00 each **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE: https://peninsulakids.com.au/spring-2025-things-we-love-giveaway/
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? LEGO Star Wars™ Chopper (C1-10P) Astromech Droid Suitable for 10+ – Create a playful display featuring a lovable astromech droid Chopper (C1-10P) with this LEGO® Star Wars™ buildable model kit with a buildable figure of Chopper, as seen in Star Wars: Ahsoka™. Move the lever on his back to remotely activate his iconic head movements, pose his arms and legs, fold out a tool from his chest, and more. Choppers arms and his center wheel are detachable so he can be displayed as if his arms and wheel have been retracted into his body. Suitable for 10+. RRP: $179.99 https://www.lego.com/en-au **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE VIA LINK IN BIO
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