10 Earth Day Activities for Families

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

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Earth Day – Wednesday, April 22, 2020

This year, we are celebrating 50 years of the Earth Day movement! Now, even more than ever, we need to understand how important it is to take care of our Earth and teach positive actions to new generations.

So, here are 10 Earth Day Activities for Families that can be completed this week (and next week, and the next week, …).

 

1. Pick Up Trash in Your Neighborhood

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Picking up trash is one of the best Earth Day activities because of the immediate visual change. You can choose to use an official trash pick-up program, such as WV’s Adopt-A-Highway, or just grab a bag, gloves, and some tongs and go to work. Just make sure kids are old enough to practice safety standards.

 

2. Zero-Waste Challenge

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Challenge yourselves to produce zero waste on Earth Day. This means not using any disposable items. Have kids check their progress throughout the day. Did they use washable utensils and containers for breakfast? Did they recycle the boxes and containers used to make lunch?

 

3. Replace Lightbulbs with LEDs

This may not be the most fun Earth Day activity, but it will make a lasting impact on your electricity consumption. As you replace the lightbulbs, have your kids figure out the difference between the old and new wattage (yay math!).

 

4. Start (or Bump Up) a Home Recycling Program

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

This requires a good bit of work, but it is worth it! Even if you do not have a recycling pick up service, there is most likely a recycling service near-by. You may have to make a special trip each month, just make sure to bring your kids along. Check with the recycling service for items and plastic #s accepted and make sure everything is clean and washed.

 

5. Decorate Reusable Grocery Bags

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Ditch the plastic bags and create a reusable grocery bag decorating Earth Day family activity. Dollar Tree has $1 reusable fabric totes that can be painted or colored using fabric markers. They also have pre-decorated large laminated totes and character totes if you just want to do a reusable grocery bag shopping party with the family.

 

6. Start (or Work On) a Garden

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

If you have a garden, then section off a spot for your kids. If you have a patio or even an available windowsill, create a kid’s container garden. Let them choose what plants they want to grow (with some guidance) and teach them how to care for their garden throughout the summer and fall.

 

7. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Go online and download Energy Star’s “How Big is Your Carbon Footprint” activity. Work through the activity with your kids, where they color in rings on a footprint based on survey questions in four categories. This resource is great because it leads you step-by-step through the activity, and provides actions such as turning off lights and TVs, unplugging electronics and chargers, sealing gaps in doors and windows, and not wasting water.

 

8. Reuse/Upcycle

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Upcycle an item in your home that would be thrown away or donated. For example, you all can make Book Page Gift Tags, DIY Water Bottle Piggy Banks, or a DIY Colander Planter.

 

9. Plant a Tree

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Planting a tree is a great activity to start teaching about protecting and sustaining our non-renewable resources. You should teach kids about the life cycle and the incredible importance of trees to our (and the Earth’s) survival.

 

10. Sans Electronics for a Day Challenge

10 Earth Day Activities for Families

Challenge your family to go sans electronics for Earth Day and give a prize (such as a cool Earth Day craft or baking cookies) if they “survive”. Make sure to give them ideas to fill their playtime for the day. Have them read instead of stream, help pick up trash in the neighborhood, and spend time playing with family.

What activities do you do for Earth Day?

 

 

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