How Mindful Nurseries Teaches Sustainability to Under 5s (+ Home Ideas for Parents)

At Mindful Nurseries, we believe that caring for the planet starts in early childhood. That’s why sustainability isn’t just something we celebrate on Earth Day—it’s part of our everyday rhythm.

From planting fruit & veg in the garden to sorting our waste and using eco-conscious materials, our little ones learn that even small hands can make a big difference.

Let's jump straight into How Mindful Nurseries Teaches Sustainability to Under 5s (+ Home Ideas for Parents).

Sustainability in Action at Nursery

Here’s how we gently introduce eco-friendly habits in a way that’s playful, meaningful, and age-appropriate:

• Food Matters

We serve vegetarian and pescatarian meals to reduce our carbon footprint and teach children about where food comes from. Our little ones also get involved in the cooking process, helping them develop important life skills early on!

• We Grow Our Own

Children help care for fruit, vegetables and herbs in our nursery gardens. From planting seeds to watering and picking what’s ripe, they’re involved in every step—and they love seeing their homegrown goodies used in our meals and snacks!

• Waste Sorting

Children learn how to separate food waste, recyclables, and general rubbish. It’s amazing how quickly they take ownership of it!

• Plastic-Free Choices

We’ve swapped out a lot of our plastic items for more sustainable alternatives! For example, we’ve gotten rid of bottled hand wash for bars of soap.  We also encourage the use of reusable materials in play and daily routines.

• Water Conservation

We’re working toward collecting rainwater to help children understand the value of this precious resource.

• Sustainable Play

We prioritise natural and recycled materials, from wooden toys to repurposed craft supplies.

These small actions build lifelong habits and nurture a sense of responsibility and connection to the natural world.

How You Can Teach Sustainability at Home

Want to extend the message beyond the nursery? Here are a few simple and engaging ways to get started at home with your little one:

Easy Eco Activities for Under 5s:

• Plant something together: Cress in an egg cup, herbs on the windowsill, or sunflowers in the garden. Watching something grow teaches patience and wonder.

• Make a junk model: Gather clean recycling (like cardboard tubes, boxes, bottle tops) and get creative!

• Go on a nature walk: Spot birds, leaves, bugs, and talk about what they need to survive.

• Sort your waste together: Turn recycling into a game—what goes where?

• Water-saving challenge: Use a sand timer for hand washing or tooth brushing to save water and start a conversation about water conservation.

Children’s Books

Here are a few of our favourites to help start conversations at home:

My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan & Francesca Sanna

Ideal for: 3 - 5 years

Click here to view it on Amazon

Love, the Earth by Frances Stickley & Tim Hopgood

Ideal for: 3 years +

Click here to view it on Amazon

Where Does My Food Come From?: The story of how your favourite food is made by Annabel Karmel & Alex Willmore

Ideal for: 4 years +

Click here to view it on Amazon

Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola

Ideal for: 3 years +

Click here to view it on Amazon

National Trust: Where's Mrs Bee? by Ingela P Arrhenius

Ideal for: 0 - 3 years

Click here to view it on Amazon

Indestructibles: Let's Go Outside! by Amy Pixton & Ekaterina Trukhan

Ideal for: 0 - 2 years

Click here to view it on Amazon

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If you’d like to see how we incorporate sustainability into nursery life, we’d love to welcome you for a show-around. Come and meet our team, explore our eco-conscious spaces, and learn how we’re making everyday Earth Day.