Do you ever just think that you could do something better for the planet? Now, I’m definitely not perfect, but I am conscious about my actions when it comes to waste and recycling. After all, Earth is the only place we have to live, so we need to take care of it!
Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970 and was started to bring awareness to the world’s environmental issues. There are many ways you can teach your children about caring for our environment and Earth Day, but nothing beats hands on experience.
Here are 8 ways you can get your kids involved with some hands on learning for Earth Day.
(1) Make the pledge to ditch plastic bags.
This one is simple. Take your own reusable grocery bags to the store. I’ve been doing this for years now and I love not having tons of plastic bags around. I’m definitely not perfect, so I do end up bringing home plastic bags from time to time, but I always end up recycling them. Even when I use grocery pickup, I tell them no plastic bags and we load everything into my reusable bags. Talk to your kids about how plastic bags are bad for the environment and how they can help you make the change. You can even make it their job to remind you to bring the reusable bags with you when you go shopping.
(2) Pick up litter in your neighborhood.
The next time you are taking a stroll around your neighborhood to go to the park, get the mail or whatever it may be, take a trash bag with you. You can even make it a weekly or monthly activity. Grab the trash along the way and help make your community a more beautiful place!
(3) Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
This tip from the EPA says you can save 8 gallons of water a day if you turn off your faucet while you brush. Some people take this to the next level and even turn off the water at certain points when they are showering!
(4) Talk about recycling.
Did you know that not all recycling facilities recycle everything? I didn’t know this until just recently! Give your local recycling center a call and check which recyclables they process. Teach your children to check for the recycling numbers and (if they are old enough) what each of the numbers mean. Also discuss with your children how to properly clean items before they are thrown in the recycling bin so they don’t contaminate other recyclables.
(5) Go for a hike.
Get outside and appreciate nature! Point out different types of trees, plants and critters you see along the way. Pack a picnic lunch and stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. And don’t forget to grab any litter you see!
(6) Plant a tree.
When the tree grows it can shade your house to help keep it cooler in the warm months. This will help your electricity consumption! There are also trees that thrive in warmer climates and don’t require much water. And then there’s the more obvious reason, that trees give us oxygen!
(7) Ditch the dryer sheets.
Dryer sheets are generally a one-time use item and you throw them out after each load of laundry. By switching to wool dryer balls, you now have a product that can be used over and over again, hundreds of times around. Wool is an easily renewable source. Your clothes will spend less time in the dryer because the dryer balls “fluff” your clothes as they are drying, instead of laying flat like dryer sheets. Not only will you help the environment, but you’ll be saving electricity and money in the long run.
(8) Kick the soda habit.
This can go for more beverages than just soda. But really, it comes in aluminum cans (from mining), plastic bottles (from fossil fuels) or styrofoam cups (also fossil fuels). Glass bottles obviously look like the winner here, but in reality they are the heaviest option which results in a larger carbon footprint for transportation. It just seem like we can’t win here.
There are many more ways you can teach your children about Earth Day and how to better care for our planet. Sharing these ideas with your children now can help instill lifelong habits.
Share with us your favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day and how you plan to get your kids involved!
You can follow along with Claire and her motherhood adventures on Instagram @daytodayclaire.