>>SOUTHERN INDIANA — Not so long ago, it wasn't easy being green as Kermit the Frog so famously commiserated.

Though his despair was of a different nature, until recently it wasn't too easy to be green environmentally speaking, either.

Today, 40 years after the first Earth Day was celebrated, being green is not only trendy, it's easier than ever — and with a little help from parents, being in tune with the environment will be second nature for our children.

And it's never too early to start. As soon as children begin to learn about the world around them they can also learn about protecting it.

We've been teaching Ava to turn the water off when she's brushing her teeth, with a simple explanation that we want to save water for the “fishes.”

Of course now she's asking more complicated questions about water conservation; she recently informed me we didn't have to save toilet water because the “fishes don't want to swim in pee.” That's what the experts call a teachable moment.

“Parents should try to recognize opportunities to teach toddlers eco-lessons in the moment, the same way they would seize the opportunities to teach them about safety, sharing and manners” said Crissy Trask, author of “It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living.” 

“We don't wait until our kids are 5 or 6 to start teaching them about good practices, like keeping their hands to themselves, sharing, brushing their teeth, eating their vegetables, etc.,” she said. “Toddlers are no less capable of learning behaviors that conserve resources than they are of learning any new behaviors.”

I know I'm constantly amazed at my daughter's ability to grasp concepts I assume are too complicated for her 3-year-old mind.

One of Ava's favorite activities is watering plants. She can tell you all about how plants and trees need sun and water to grow and that they provide oxygen that helps us breathe. Does she really understand the process? I'm not sure, but she's on her way.

Last week, she and her daddy built a small planter, in which they planted a flower that Ava is very conscientious about tending to. (If she were only as mindful of her potty habits, life would be much easier.) Next up, a patio vegetable garden. I can already imagine how excited she's going to be to eat what she's grown (fortunately, she loves fresh vegetables).

Of course, as we teach our daughter green habits, we've improved our own. As any parent knows, there's no one better at reminding you to do something you've taught them to do.

So in honor of Earth Day, here are a few simple ways to teach your toddler green habits:

• Start with the three R's — reduce, reuse, recycle. Toddlers are prime candidates for sorting what goes into the paper, plastic and other bins (label bins with words or pictures to get them started). They will also begin learning what types of materials get recycled rather than trashed. Children can also learn to recycle their toys and clothing when they are done with them by donating them or selling them in a garage sale. Teach them to use both sides of paper for drawing, use a dishtowel to clean up messes instead of paper towels, and teach by example by using cloth grocery bags. At the grocery, explain that you reduce the amount of trash generated by avoiding single-item products, like juice boxes and water bottles, by buying larger containers and pouring drinks or snacks into reusable cups.

• Encourage conservation of electricity by having kids limit their television time, and getting them into the habit of turning off lights when they leave a room.

• Letting children assist with growing a small vegetable garden can teach them how much we rely on the planet's resources for survival — including dirt and insects.

• Read books about the topic, like Dr. Suess' “The Lorax,” “Grover's 10 Terrific Ways to Help Our Wonderful World” and “My Bag and Me,” a book that tells the story of a little boy who always takes his own reusable bag to the grocery store when he shops with his mother. The book includes a child-sized reusable bag.

• When possible, walk and arrange errand carpools with neighbors and explain to your children why you are going together.

• Help your child learn not to litter by picking up trash at a local park or playground.