www.mobilecommons.com
Earth Day
Earth Day is Monday, April 22. This holiday provides a great opportunity to talk with children about our role in protecting the environment. Although the holiday is only one day, here are some ideas of things to do with your family to reinforce the idea of caring for and protecting the environment all week.
Monday: In honor of Earth Day, plant a tree today! Discuss with children the many things that trees are used for and why it is so important to try to replace what we use.
Tuesday: Take a nature walk. Whether you walk around your neighborhood or take a trip to the park, take some time to recognize and enjoy the beauty of our natural environment. This may be a good time to talk about animal habitats and the importance of protecting these.
Wednesday: Try to have a trash-free day. Challenge each member of your family to avoid throwing anything away today. Eating fresh foods instead of packaged foods, using cloth napkins instead of paper towels and reusing items can help accomplish this goal.
Thursday: Nurture the wildlife in your backyard. Feeding birds is a great way to help support the wildlife in your neighborhood. It also brings the birds closer to you so that you can enjoy watching and listening to them.
Friday: Host a toy exchange. Invite some friends over with their children. Have them bring a few toys that they no longer play with. Each child at the event gets to choose a "new" toy from the ones brought and the rest of the toys can be donated to charity. This is a great way to teach children that used items are a great alternative to purchasing new products.
Saturday: Visit your local farmer's market. Allow everyone in the family to select some locally grown produce and plan a meal around it. Many kids love to help in the kitchen and will especially enjoy it if they were involved in planning the meal.
Sunday: Plan a car-free day. Talk about alternative forms of transportation and use them if you need to go somewhere. A bike ride or a long walk is not only good for the Earth, it is also good for your health!
