With April being a month all about celebrating our Earth, we are sharing a few fun family activities that will help you celebrate our planet!
Have a family movie night
Host a movie night for your kids and choose movies with environmental themes such as the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012), Disney’s WALL-E (2008), and FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1993). Studio Ghibli, the legendary Japanese animation studio, has several films that explore the relationship between nature and humans, including Princess Mononoke (1997) and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984).
Create brand new sheets of paper
Collect newspapers, junk mail, old catalogs, printer paper, coloring sheets, and other paper materials to make recycled paper. This is a fun and easy activity that can be done with kids of all ages. Here is a quick step-by-step guide from Boston Children’s Museum.
Go on a nature scavenger hunt
This activity can get kids of all ages excited about exploring the world around them. Head out to your backyard or a nearby park and see how many different things you can find. Look for items by category, such as colors, and ask your children to find things that are green, yellow, and brown.
Plant a garden
Gardening allows you to connect with nature, improve air quality, and create a beautiful addition to your home. It is also a great way to teach kids about the process of growing plants and the importance of taking care of the environment.
Make a bird feeder
Helping to provide food for local birds shows your commitment to taking care of the planet. All you need is a few supplies (such as pine cones, soda bottles, milk cartons, or toilet paper rolls) and a bit of time, and you will be helping our feathered friends!
Stargaze
There is nothing quite like looking up at the stars on a clear night. Grab a blanket and some hot chocolate, and find a spot outdoors where the whole family can enjoy a few hours of stargazing.
Make recycled art
Recycled art is a great way for children to learn about recycling and to use their creativity. The possibilities are endless! Using materials like old magazines, CDs, or bottle caps, you can have kids make sculptures, puppets, mobiles, or even jewelry. You can also have them use recycled materials to make paintings or drawings.
Visit a nature preserve
Get up close and personal with nature by visiting your local nature preserve for a day filled with adventure. Children will be able to see all kinds of plants and animals in their natural habitat and learn more about our planet.
Make a compost bin
Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce your family’s carbon footprint and teach your children some valuable lessons about nature. Your kids will have the opportunity to learn which items are biodegradable and non-biodegradable, why worms and insects are important in the ecosystem, what the three environmental Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) are, and more! With just a little bit of effort, you can turn your food scraps into nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
Volunteer at a local park
If you want to do something more hands-on to help take care of the environment, consider volunteering as a family at your local park. Even young children can pick up trash and pull out weeds. Together, you can help with cleanup efforts, gardening, or even taking care of the animals! Moreover, volunteer activities such as this teach kids community involvement.
Earth Day is a wonderful chance to spend time with your children and teach them about the importance of taking care of our planet. Plus, meaningful family moments can also cultivate a lifelong love of learning in your children, which many early childhood learning centers like Celebree School advocate for. There are many ways you can participate, so be sure to have fun!