Looking for simple ways to go about celebrating Earth Day with kids? I’ve got you covered!
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Mama Earth is in pretty rough shape these days. But this Earth Day, we have an opportunity to take a minute or two to be grateful for all that is beautiful about our planet and teach the next generation how to take better care of her. Here’s a list of ways to enjoy the holiday, get the kids involved, and take better care of our planet earth every day. Here are a few ways you can go about celebrating Earth Day with kids.
Plant a tree.
This one’s super easy! Have your child be a part of the process of purchasing a sapling from a local nursery, planting it in your yard, and caring for it as it thrives. Kids are often hands-on learners and will probably never look at a big tree the same ever again.
Attend an Earth Day fair.
Celebrations may be few this year due to the global pandemic, but if they are being held in your city, you may consider attending an Earth Day Fair while properly social distancing. Most Earth Day fairs will have events like yoga in the park, have various vendors, and have live music. These fairs typically educate the community on what we can be doing better while also entertaining the crowds and celebrating what we often take for granted.
Make your yard a sanctuary for birds.
This creative and fun activity is perfect for animal lovers! Make or buy birdhouses, bird feeders, and birdbaths (preferably in a spot you can see from your window each day). Here’s a great list of bird feeders to make with kids, in case you’re drawing a blank. If you have an indoor cat, she will be incredibly grateful for the new entertainment.
Ditch bottled water and plastic straws.
Did you know that 500 million plastic straws are used and thrown away daily in the United States alone? And billions of plastic water bottles end up in our landfills, our wildlife sanctuaries, and our oceans each year. (Here’s a list of all the other reasons bottled water is horrible for the environment and our health.) Kicking our plastic habit as a nation will be challenging, but these two baby steps will make a significant impact. Saying “No thanks” when offered a plastic straw is actually one of the easiest things we can do to save the planet. Think about it: many of the plastic we consume is out of habit, so instilling good habits in our kids as early as possible should have the reverse effect.
Start a compost bin.
Teach your children that food scraps can be re-used in the garden, instead of tossing them in the trash. Making a worm bin, in particular, is really fun for kids (though it’s possible to do it without the worms, if you’d rather). Your family has lots of options for this, from small indoor containers that are perfect for apartment dwellers to large outdoor containers that are great for those with big backyards. This website is an excellent resource for starting this project.
Shop local.
Teach your kids how buying locally produced goods, sold in locally run shops, helps both the environment and the economy thrive. (Here’s an excellent resource to get the conversation started.) I’d suggest heading to the farmer’s market to match your lesson with real people and things, so your kids can understand the concepts better.
In Conclusion
Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to teach children the importance of taking care of our planet and how their little efforts can go a long way. Hopefully, these activities will help you get started on your journey to celebrating Earth Day with kids this year – and every other year! Happy Earth Day! 🌎💚
