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Earth Day activities & crafts for kids
Earth Day is observed in April and raises awareness of how we affect the environment. In order to help young ones understand more about our environment, sustainability, and the numerous ways that we can help make a difference, parents and teachers frequently observe the day with educational activities for kids. Learning that they can contribute to making the world a healthier place gives youngsters a sense of empowerment. Even the tiniest improvements can make a difference.
Learning about Earth Day for kids
Each year on April 22, Earth Day is observed all across the world. On Earth Day, many people spend the day learning about the environment and how to live a more sustainable life. There are numerous community awareness-raising events that involve tasks like recycling drives, tree plantings, and neighbourhood clean-ups.
On April 22, 1970, the inaugural Earth Day was observed, and over 20 million individuals in the US took part. Earth Day became a worldwide holiday in 1990 after being successful in raising awareness of environmental issues and being incorporated into several environmental laws. Today, it’s believed that one billion people worldwide observe Earth Day annually!
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Helping kids understand sustainability
Children may find it difficult to understand some complex ideas, and sustainability is one of those! It can be difficult to explain sustainability to kids in a way that they will grasp, given how big and complicated the subject is. However, there are other ways to inculcate in your child a passion for the environment that will help them understand what it is to live sustainably.
One of the best approaches is to encourage your child to develop positive habits beginning at home and in everyday activities. While this will take some time, they will eventually grasp its significance and come to comprehend the necessity for environmental protection. Here are some quick actions you may do to encourage your child to adopt healthy habits:
Lead by example
There’s no denying that…When it comes to absorbing new information, children are like sponges. They are observant, intuitive, and quick to pick things up, so setting a good example is very crucial. Of course, there are instances when it’s simpler said than done, but don’t fret! Simple changes might develop into ingrained routines.
For instance, make sure to switch off the lights when you leave the room and include your child in the recycling sorting process. Be mindful of how much water you use when brushing your teeth, and turn off the tap as you go. Establishing more ecologically friendly practises for the entire family will be made easier by encouraging your youngster to adopt these behaviours and practising them yourself.
Surf the net
It’s likely that your youngster will ask you why if you remind them to turn off the lights or use less water when brushing their teeth. Giving your child the knowledge they need to realise the impact these little things can have on the environment and on sustainability is a wonderful opportunity.
If you don’t have the answers to their inquiries, don’t worry. Spend some time learning about the subjects your child is interested in together, and use some internet resources to fill in the blanks. Sometimes it can be helpful to research a few websites in advance to make sure you’re getting material from dependable sources that will be relevant to what your child is studying. Giving your child some context will encourage them to incorporate their new, sustainable habits into their daily routines.
Earth Day projects and art activities for kids
An excellent Earth Day project to attempt with your kid is upcycling. It not only makes use of recycled materials that you probably already have in your recycling bins, but it also encourages children to think of inventive applications for objects that would otherwise be thrown away. Reusing objects not only prevents waste from going to a landfill or recycling facility, but it also fosters creativity in children and teaches them to value what they already have.
Here are some Earth Day activities for kids that will teach them about sustainability and the environment while encouraging them to reuse and recycle items.
Seed bombs
There are many methods to help the environment, but one of the most enjoyable and enduring is planting something. You can make these seed bombs really quickly and easily, and you can reuse a lot of paper scraps that were going for the recycling bin.
Construction paper and water should be combined in a food processor to create the seed bombs. Although the texture will be mushy, it will retain enough moisture to keep the seeds inside. After everything has been thoroughly blended, pour the mixture into a bowl and add any seeds you wish to plant on the mixture of paper. then start mixing! Your child will enjoy incorporating the seeds into the mushy paper mixture with their hands. Place the mixture in a muffin pan and bake it until the next day. Get planting by watching this YouTube video for comprehensive instructions.
The paper will decompose and the seeds will sprout once the seed bombs are planted. The plants will begin to grow after a few sunny and cloudy days. Additionally, seed bombs are wonderful presents!
Stuffed animal accessories
When it comes to garbage that ends up in landfills, textiles are some of the worst offenders. Around 85% of textile waste generated in the US is discarded. The next time you have some unwanted clothing or fabric scraps, consider turning them into stylish accessories for your child’s stuffed animals. This Earth Day creation introduces your child to textile crafts while reusing materials that might have otherwise gone to the landfill.
Little bit of a sewer? No issue! Get some craft glue, and you can start right away. Use scissors to cut out simple clothing or accessories like scarves, dresses, headbands, or blouses for their preferred dolls or plush toys. Kids can use fabric paint (or ordinary paint), fabric markers, or even glue sequins on for extra glitter to create the new items. Even better, your child may sew something to go in their pet’s favourite napping location or a cosy comforter for their favourite toy. Your child will enjoy playing around with leftover fabric!
Paper bag canvases
For more Earth Day-themed artwork, see this. Instead of throwing away the brown paper bags that have accumulated from your shopping trips, try using them for your upcoming art project! They make stunning canvases for all kinds of artistic works. Let your child make a masterpiece to hang on the wall by using paints, markers, crayons, stickers, or stamps. Make a paper bag puppet out of construction paper, or have your kid decorate one to use as a present bag for a birthday celebration!
Download our Garbage printable
With the help of our printable rubbish activity pack, you can teach your child more about recycling and waste sorting. You may practise counting while loading a garbage truck, sort trash using amusing flashcards, create a community out of recycled materials, and more. With everyone’s favourite stinky substance, kids can also practise tracing, vocabulary, fine motor abilities, and other skills. Pee-yew!
Earth Day books for kids
One of the best things you can do with your child is read to them. Your child is learning and imagining when you read together, and it’s a crucial activity for building relationships between parents and their kids. By exposing kids to new subjects, it broadens their horizons. Curling up with a good book is a terrific approach to help your child understand the significance of Earth Day.
Pick up some books about the environment at the library with your child, or conduct a fast Google search to see what books are available. To get you started on your study, here are a few kid-friendly read-aloud books on Earth Day:
- John Seven’s book, Gorilla Gardener: How to Help Nature Take Over the World, This book is entirely focused on flora, gardening, and enjoying time in the outdoors. Along with the seed bomb craft, it’s a fantastic book!
- Clean Up, Rocket Says! by Nathan Bryon – One of those books that will foster an awareness for the environment and environmental advocacy in your child is this one. The narrative is on a young girl who rescues a turtle caught in a net on the beach and uses her example to inspire others to maintain a clean beach.
- Elizabeth Rusch’s Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet This book gives kids an accessible introduction to the work of Mario Molino, a significant person in the history of science and the environment. There will undoubtedly be discussions on the environment and what we can do to help!