It is only in recent years that I have started to take notice of the environment. I was raised in a fairly normal Aussie household where I wore too little sunscreen, my mum didn’t garden, we shopped at the local “Franklins” and brought it home in the dreaded plastic shopping bags to be used in the bin in the kitchen. Dad mowed the lawn, we had a little pool, two cars. I never thought about where our fruit and vegetables came from, nor did I think about where all our rubbish was going. We left on lights and the air-conditioner, only ever turning them off in thoughts of excessive bills, never environmental impact…. as I said, fairly normal.

Obviously times have changed and we are a generation who now must be aware of how our living is impacting the environment. It does not come naturally to me, but I am trying. I have NEVER been able to keep a plant alive, however I am giving it another go having planted tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries and brussel sprouts in a little vegie patch my husband knocked together for me (no snickering from those who know me please!). Chooks are next on our list, we are just a little worried about the two enormous foxes we already see sniffing around our place.

I want to teach my kids to respect nature and respect the planet and, as I am not exactly sure how to go about it, the Eco Kids Festival looks like a great place to start. Australia’s first green lifestyle expo is being held on Sunday, September 13 at Luna Park from 10am-5pm and has oodles of sustainable living fun and information for parents and children.

There are eco-workshops on things like composting and worm-farming, and creating arts and crafts using recycled materials (hats, headbands, bags, props, sculptures, flags – you get to keep what you create!). There are online games unlocking secrets to water conservation, recycling and land preservation. The Amazing Drumming Monkeys puppet show will delight your children with music and jokes and The Sydneys Child Wildlife Show will also be there. Music, singing, dancing, showbags, face painting, solar gadgets and entertainers including Dorothy the Dinasour will ensure that, as well as learning so much about conserving the planet, you and your kids will have a fun-filled day.

There is so much more going on than I can cover here so head over to their website if you are near Sydney and might be interested in heading to Luna Park for this wonderful festival. I am hoping it will become an annual event. I think my 4 year old may be just old enough to learn something from the day out but I would love to go in a few years with both my boys and hubby so we can all benefit.

Do you think this kind of festival is worthwhile and, from what ages do you think your kids can start to comprehend how their actions affect the planet?