Making Earth Day Every Day

April 22 is Earth Day and a perfect occasion to teach your children about sustainability. Together, we can all pitch in to help preserve and protect this amazing planet for future generations. Here are some ideas on how to make a difference on this day.

Take a litter walk – when my girls were little, we walked around our neighborhood on Earth Day to clean up our streets and park. At the end of the hike, each child received an Earth Day Hero certificate for her efforts. Be sure to bring gloves and bags and establish limits on what items kids can pick up vs. adults, e.g. no glass.

Befriend a butterfly – explain to the kiddos how monarchs need milkweed to survive. Plant some milkweed seeds in a sunny spot (a simple task even toddlers can help with!) These plants grow tall and are fun to watch throughout the seasons. In the summer, see who can spot the first monarch caterpillar. In the fall, the kids can help harvest the fluffy seed pods.

Make a fairy garden – Studies show that kids who spend time outdoors are more likely to care for the environment. “Friend a Fairy” is activity #20 in my Gift of Green Time – Lake Minnetonka book. You can get the whole family involved in choosing the perfect place for your fairies to live, like a mossy alcove or a tree hollow. You might even make it a community fairy garden with a special celebration to kick off the gardening season.

For more ideas on going green and enjoying the outdoors as a family, check out my Gift of Green Time ® series at bevgillen.com.