Reuse and value — Economics, 4–6 years
A thing may still be useful after its first owner no longer needs it. Reusing, repairing or passing it on can keep its value and avoid using new materials for no good reason.
Useful things can have another life
Value is not always gone when a person stops using something. A coat that is too small for one child may still keep another child warm, and a broken toy may work after a small repair. Reuse means finding another use before throwing a thing away.
Why people reuse
Making a new object needs materials, energy and people’s time. Throwing away a useful object means those resources were used once and then lost, while buying another object uses more. Repairing and passing things on grew from the simple problem of making what we have last longer.
A second-hand coat
A coat cost 30 euros when Ana’s family bought it. After one winter, it no longer fits Ana, but it is clean and undamaged. Her family gives it to Rui, who needs a coat, instead of buying another one immediately. The coat keeps its useful value and one new purchase is avoided.
Old means worthless
A common mistake is thinking that anything old or used has no value. That is reasonable because scratches, missing pieces or a changed fashion can make an object look less attractive. But value depends on whether it still works, can be repaired, or is useful to someone else.
Repair shops and swaps
People reuse things through repair shops, second-hand shops, library loans, toy swaps and charity collections. These places help an object move to someone who can use it. Recycling is also useful, but it breaks materials down; reuse usually keeps the object itself working.
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