Earth Day, a day intended to inspire individuals and organizations all over the world to demonstrate their committment to protection of the Earth's natural enviroment, is this Friday, April 22nd. Environmental education for the younger generation starts at home and with you. Going green can be simple and fun, and the benefits to our Earth are great!
In honor of Earth Day, The Preschool Toolbox, locally owned by educators Tracy Hitchins and Darla Hutson, shared some activities to spark conversations with your kids about caring for our Earth on Earth Day and everyday! This Friday, try a few and talk to your children about how this activity relates to Earth Day!
- Next time it is nice outside, leave the car at home and walk to the park or store.
- Visit a local organic grower with your children and talk to the farmer. Visit a local farmer’s market and point out all the good food choices with your child.
- Befriend your garbage man and talk to him about where he takes all the garbage. Visit the local dump and see ALL the things that go into the landfill.
- Have socks without a match? Throw them into a basket and have kids sort by colors, patterns, type of sock, or practice folding.
- Cover recycled juice boxes with paper and decorate like cameras! Have your kids "take" pictures outside & discuss the Earth's beauty.
- Recycle an old shoe box and make a 'Kindness Box.' Every time your child does something extra special or kind to another, give them a slip and have them stamp or write a K on it and put it in the box. We total ALL Kind Slips at the end of the month and then choose what we will do together as a family to show kindness and generosity. Visit a nursing home, take a treat to the garbage man, visit someone who needs company, etc.
- Don't know what to do with your child's old paintings and art work? Recycle them into something new. We took finger paintings and cut out umbrellas to make a SPRING bulletin board. Be creative!
- Collect old buttons and save. For children over 3, have them sort into baskets by color, shape, or sizes. *Be careful with young 3's as they still may put things into their mouth (choking hazard).
- Reuse old formula or coffee cans by decorating them with any collage materials around the house (recycle strips of fabric and paper). Use as toddler TOM-TOMS or have preschoolers use rhythm sticks for "recycled" drums. Play rhythms and have your child try to copy the rhythm you tap out on the drum.
- Recycle bubble wrap and use as a painting tool for the kids. Cut the bubble wrap into squares, clip in a clothespin, and have the kids dip the bubble wrap into washable paint! Bubble paintings!
- Recycle paper towel tubes and have the kids decorate any way they wish. Use outdoors for nature explorations. We used these for BIRD and BUG WATCHING! Great FUN!
- Use 10, 2 Liter empty bottles and set up like bowling pins. Put a number on each with a permanent marker. Have your children choose a number from a flash card deck and BOWL for that number.
- Take your kids to a nearby stream or waterway. Help pick up dead sticks, garbage, and other items to clean-up the area. Work together for an hour!
- Visit local second-hand shops or garage sales for toys. Not only do your children get MORE for the money, they are helping to recycle.
- Check with other families you know that might be able to use your child’s old clothes. Garage sale or buy some 'new-to-you' clothing at second-hand shops.
- Teach your child (or yourself) to plant seeds and grow something! Teach your children the joys of WAITING for wanted items instead of immediate gratification.
- Learn to sew…it is becoming a lost art, but many things CAN be fixed instead of being discarded.
- Recycle and reuse plastics from grocery store items. We use lunchmeat containers to store small plastic toys that need a home!
- Teach your child to use a map, a compass, and binoculars. Exploring the outdoors this way fosters a love of nature!
- Point out garbage along roadways and in parks. Talk to your child about littering and why it isn’t good (and often, illegal!)
- Use baking soda and apple cider vinegar for cleaning. It is inexpensive and works as good, or better, than many chemical cleaners.
- Teach your child to do laundry. If they are responsible for helping, they will usually make LESS of it.
- Participate in Earth Day activities in your local area. Macaroni Kid's e-newsletter (no paper waste here!) is a great place to start!
Find other ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, so that our Earth will be as beautiful tomorrow as it is today!
Many thanks to The Preschool Toolbox for providing these great ideas! The Preschool Toolbox specializes in thematic units that parents, teachers, childcare providers and homeschoolers can use to teach children skills necessary for brain and body development. Visit their website at http://www.thepreschooltoolbox.com/ for more educational activity ideas and fun learning tools to use with your children! You can find them on facebook too!
