Earth Day is on April 22, and it’s a great time to help the planet. What you may not know, though, is that this is an excellent opportunity to educate your family and have fun at the same time! There are so many things that we can do to protect the environment, and many of them don’t take a lot of time or effort at all!
Unfortunately, even when we recycle, it never gets used again. We recycle many things that companies don’t bother reusing at all, even though they can be. One of the ways to work around this is to compost. A compost bin can take things like cardboard and other things that aren’t recycled, and it helps prevent harmful gasses from being put into the air. It can take about three hours (depending on how specialized you want the container and process to be), and it doesn’t cost too much to do either!
Cleanups are a great way to ensure that our cities and the areas around them look better. Beach cleanups are extremely popular because plastic, litter, and other forms of trash (including medical waste) can end up on the beach. That can be dangerous for kids, so cleaning them up is the best way to ensure that the beaches stay clean and that sea creatures don’t eat things they shouldn’t.
Plarn is yarn made from plastic bags. Not only is it super easy, it’s super fun! I do this with my nieces and nephews, and we turn it into a game. Not only are you keeping plastic bags out of landfills, but the plan is extremely versatile. One woman turned thousands of plastic bags into a wedding dress for an eco-wedding! You can make bags, hats, and a wide variety of things. There have even been campaigns for making mats for homeless people so they don’t have to sleep on the ground.
Nature walks are a favorite of mine. Create a nature journal with your children of everything you see. Name the different birds, plants, and animals. This is a fun learning opportunity for your family and a great way to get outdoors and spend time together. You can also have a field guide that will help you identify what you’re seeing. This doesn’t have to be expensive, either. You can print free guides from educational sites!
Another great idea is to do a scavenger hunt or nature bingo. Have them find things in nature and have cute little prizes for each kid when they see something. It can make the trip feel like a party.
Plants that live outside need a lot to grow, but you can have plants inside, too! Building a terrarium inside your home can be utterly self-sufficient because it’s a microenvironment. There are so many ways to do this, so you can have each of your children make one and add their own flair. I recommend adding shells or moss to make your terrarium come alive.
A garden is a great way to teach your children about our Earth. You can teach them about discipline, responsibility, food sustainability, and ecosystems and how they work. With wildflowers, you create a space that helps your local bees and insects. Because bees are now considered endangered (with some species facing a possible total extinction), you will provide them with a safe place to go.
A bird feeder is a beautiful idea because it gives your birds a place to go and find food if they can’t on their own. You don’t need much to do this. Believe it or not, a simple bird feeder can be made of pinecone and dental floss. Then you simply mix raisins and other items for them to eat, and voila!
Use A Plastic Bottle To Create A Magnifying Glass
This activity is fun for children and easy to do. With a two-liter bottle, you can make a magnifying glass that can see bugs, rocks, leaves, and other areas of nature. You can turn it into a fun activity to see how many things you can find. This is a great way to get rid of bottles you don’t need and have a great time exploring.
Have Fun Celebrating Earth Day!
Earth Day is a great day to raise awareness of the many issues our planet is facing and teach your children about what we can do to help. Even the smallest ideas can help and become a great way to get your family interested in our Earth. Many of these suggestions have made my family’s days more fun, and I hope they bring wonderful memories to your family, too!
Jenifer Dale is a writer that has a passion for reading and helping others. When she is not writing, she loves cooking, crocheting, and spending time with her family.