Hook: Earth Day is a pretty exciting day and sharing a bit about the history of Earth Day with your children is really a great learning opportunity.
Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. It is all about putting a little focus on helping to conserve the environment of planet Earth. A great way to share this love of nature with your kids is to plan some Earth Day activities kids will love. Here are 10 easy earth day activities kids and adults can get involved with to have a positive impact on the environment while having fun.
When And What Is Earth Day?
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. It is celebrated worldwide annually on April 22nd with events to demonstrate support for environmental protection. There are lots of ways to get involved for Earth Day. Earth Day is all about raising awareness of environmental issues and doing something to support our environment. From small activities such as Earth Day crafts and games to joining Earth Day events to signing petitions, each action counts.
List Of Family Earth Day Activities
Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to engage in activities that promote environmental awareness and conservation. Here are some Earth Day activities that you can consider:
1. Plant A Garden
Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to take up a lot of room or be a lot of work. If you don’t have a yard, just plant a container garden . Even one pot with one tomato plant or herb is a great way to let kids see that we can grow our own foods and get a feel for organic gardening. Stonyfield Organic Kids plant-based cups make great seed starters! Another earth day activity is to go volunteer at a community garden. You can learn to have a green thumb!
2. Plant A Tree
Planting trees is an important way to increase oxygen and help to prevent global warming by reducing levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It is also a great activity to get younger kids involved in a fun hands-on way. If you have room in your yard, consider planting a fruit or nut bearing tree . That will be an extra fun element for kids as they get to harvest the fruits of their labor in the future. If you don’t have room for a tree in your own yard, there are lots of local organizations that plant trees for Earth Day and they usually need lots of volunteers to help. Just use a search engine to find local volunteer opportunities.
3. Earth Day Crafts
You can challenge older kids to create a craft using items that they would otherwise throw away or recycle. It will be fun to see how their crafty little minds think of unusual ways to upcycle . If you have younger children, you might provide them with an Earth Day craft ready to go such as homemade finger paints and a stack of papers that have already been used on one side that you no longer need. I reused our Stonyfield Organic Kids cups as containers to hold the finger paints. An earth day art project is such a fun way to get creative and celebrate a sustainable future.
Fun Fact: Stonyfield Organic Kids yogurt multipack cups are made from plants! These plastic cups made from plants have a lower carbon footprint and are better for the environment than petroleum-based cups.
4. Conserve Water And Energy
Talk to your family members about how their everyday choices add up. Teach them how they can help conserve water by turning off the faucet while they brush their teeth. Teach them how they can help conserve energy by turning off lights that they are not using. Give them some fun Earth Day stickers every time they notice a light that needs turning off!
5. Keep Clothes Out Of Landfills
Many local schools have clothing banks where parents can donate gently used clothing with clothes going right back to kids in the schools where the items were collected. You can encourage your kids to help collect clothes and deliver them to the school.
6. Have A Screen-Free Day
Turn off all screens and spend the day playing games, reading, or engaging in activities that don’t involve a screen. This is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and spend quality time with your family.
7. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Teach your kids the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Sort your trash and recyclables and explain the process to your kids. Encourage them to come up with creative ways to reuse items.
8. Go On A Nature Walk
Take a walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park and observe the natural surroundings. Encourage your kids to collect leaves, rocks, or other natural items and use them for crafts or science projects.
9. Make Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products using natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. This is a fun and educational activity that teaches kids about the importance of reducing chemicals in the environment.
10. Support Local Environmental Organizations
Look for local environmental organizations in your area and get involved in their activities. This could be anything from cleaning up a park to participating in a beach cleanup.
Conclusion
Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to engage in activities that promote environmental awareness and conservation with your whole family. From planting gardens to conserving energy, there are many fun and easy activities that you can do together. By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you and your family can make a positive impact on the environment and create a sustainable future.
