Did you know that Earth Day (April 22nd) is the largest secular holiday in the world? Earth Day is celebrated in over 170 countries by more than 500 million people! Earth Day is a worldwide holiday that celebrates our Earth – its lands, its oceans, and its animals.
As parents, we have the opportunity to share this love of the Earth with our children by teaching the importance of respecting the Earth. Earth Day for kids is the perfect opportunity to teach them the Earth’s value in meaningful ways. Here are 15 easy ways to instill a love for Mother Nature this Earth Day.
1.Unplug
On Monday, April 22, 2019, take time to unplug. As a family, put down your phones and turn off the tv. Make a point to turn off lights when they are not in use – or better yet, don’t use any when you get home from work and school on Monday. Eat dinner by candlelight!
2. Keep the car in park.
Do your best to make eco-friendly transportation choices. For example, walk and bike instead of driving. If you need a car to get to your destination, such as school or soccer practice, carpool with a family friend. GoKid makes it easy to reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling with other families.
3. Get outside.
Spend time outdoors this Earth Day! Have kids do their homework outdoors, have a picnic, or take a walk together.
4. Visit a recycling plant.
Download the iRecycle app to find nearby recycling centers and tips for recycling. As a family, gather recyclable items and take them to the nearest recycling center.
5. Volunteer at a local park or clean up your neighborhood.
Look for opportunities to volunteer at a local park to clean up. If your kids are too young for a community volunteer project, then go on a walk and pick up litter in your own neighborhood.
6. Plant something.
This is the perfect time to plant something. If you have space, plant a tree in your yard this Earth Day. If space is an issue, plant a kitchen herb garden.
7. Eat your veggies.
On Earth Day, feed your family plant-based foods. You get bonus points if you purchase these from a local farmer’s market.
8. Attend an Earth Day event.
Many cities throughout the US will host Earth Day events. These events are generally kid-friendly and focus on teaching families how to respect the Earth with fun activities. For example, Eventbrite lists tons of Earth Day events in LA.
Earth Day 2019’s theme is “Protect Our Species.” Find ways to protect species in your own backyard, such as working together as a family to make a bird feeder or bird bath.
9. Write a letter to your representative.
Teach kids the power of using their voice by having them write a letter to your local representative about the need to protect the Earth. You can find your representative here.
10. Read a book.
If you have young children, read an age-appropriate children’s book about respecting the Earth such as Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax.
11. Enjoy upcycling crafting.
Teach kids the beauty of reusing items rather than throwing everything away. Have an upcycle craft day. Encourage kids to find old items and find ways to turn them into something new and beautiful.
12. Donate used toys and clothes.
Go through your children’s toy boxes and their closets to find items that can be donated and shared with others. Explain why donating rather than trashing is important for the environment.
13. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.
Help kids learn to see all the wonders of nature by going on a family nature scavenger hunt. Websites like Doing Good Together have scavenger hunts already made you can use.
14. Make a green family plan.
Before Earth Day ends, take time to talk about what you learned and discuss ways your family can celebrate Earth Day all year long.
