Every April 22, we commemorate Earth Day around the world. With the ongoing climate crisis, we must teach our children about protecting the environment. By doing this, they may experience a better future with fresher air and cleaner surroundings.
Teach your Kids About Earth Day Activities
Almost all countries celebrate Earth Day every April 22. We must remind our children that our reason for this annual celebration is for everyone’s future. But, you don’t need to scare your kids into recycling or taking care of plants.
Even as we commemorate Earth Day, we must continue to spread awareness and take care of our surroundings. It may only happen once every year but it leaves a huge impact. However, that shouldn’t stop us from saving the environment all year round. Let’s teach our kids to love nature with the simple activities we listed below.
Watch Documentaries or Films
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We know that most kids find documentaries boring because of their length. However, some YouTube channels and streaming platforms offer kids-friendly docus in their selection.
To make your kids interested in nature documentaries, we suggest you start with their favourite animals. Additionally, you must choose to watch informative clips instead of full-length documentaries. In doing so, you can build their interest into more advanced topics like plants and water.
By watching environmental documentaries with your kids, you can gently teach them the harsh results of climate change. They can also apply their new knowledge to topics in school.
Plant Trees or Join Beach Cleanups
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Encourage your kids to take part in tree-planting events. Don’t be scared of driving to far events like beach cleanups and tree planting initiatives. By joining, you don’t only bond with your children but also learn the importance of keeping our surroundings clean.
During tree planting events, you and your kids can learn facts about the trees you plant. You’ll be amazed to discover which trees grow best in your area and more information about their lifespans.
Meanwhile, beach cleanups serve as reality checks for our families. It may seem harsh but our young ones need to see why littering is bad. It may make us mad but it also serves as a much-needed wake-up call.
Add Flowers to Your Garden
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If you have a garden, we suggest you make space or add pots for your kids’ favourite flowers. When making room for your children’s plants, we suggest you completely involve them in the setup.
While you rearrange the garden with your little ones, you must remember to let them play. Once you do, you can gently teach them about the care needed in growing plants. This also encourages them to love and care for their surroundings.
Arrange a Garden or Take Care of Indoor Plants
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If you reside in condos or apartments, you probably don’t own an outdoor garden. However, there are ways you can use your small indoor and outdoor space for plants.
Setting up a space for indoor plants in your home teaches your kids to value clean air. To make them aware of this, you can compare experiences of walking in bustling streets full of smoke and pollution. Let them know about the effort you put into keeping the air clean in your home.
Additionally, indoor plants and simple outdoor setups can encourage your kids to slowly love gardening. Find space for plants like succulents or flowers like jasmine. With these types of plants, you don’t have to worry about your kids growing tired of the care involved. They’ll also be more motivated and learn about the patience involved in raising plants.
Practise Proper Waste Disposal
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Start segregating your bins at home to encourage your kids to practise proper waste disposal. We encourage you to start this activity if you considered joining tree planting and beach cleanups. However, you can also do this first before joining the mentioned events. In doing so, your kids can know why you need to separate the trash in the first place.
To properly teach your kids about waste disposal, you must divide your trash into three bins. No, you don’t need to elaborate and follow the examples of hospitals or malls. All you need to do is prepare bins for recyclable, biodegradable, and non-biodegradable waste.
After setting up the bins, teach your kids where they need to throw their trash. Waste that easily breaks down should be thrown in the biodegradable bin. You may also use the trash collected here as fertilizer for your garden.
Moreover, you can teach your kids the difference between recyclable and non-biodegradable trash. Bottles and glass containers go to recyclables because garbage collectors can sell or re-use them. They may also be considered non-biodegradable waste since they don’t break down easily. However, it’s best to divide them for easier access to trash collectors.
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