Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 around the world to raise awareness about global environmental issues and their solutions. Celebrating Earth Day with kids is a great way for families to learn about the planet and have fun together. Here are 5 fun, educational activities that will help you celebrate this important day with your kids.
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1. Celebrate Earth Day with Kids by Planting a Tree or a Garden
Planting a tree is one of the most rewarding and educational Earth Day activities for kids. Make it even more special by teaching your children about their favourite types of plants and how to care for them. If you don’t have space for a full-sized tree, consider starting an indoor garden of herbs or flowers. Your children will love learning the basics of gardening and watching their plants grow over time!
I planted my vegetable garden seeds with my 5-year-old this year, and it was really fun to see how delighted he was every morning when he checked in on their growth! I can’t wait to see how he reacts to eventually harvesting them.
To get started, read some of my tips in the following gardening post:
How to Create the Perfect Container Garden in 5 Easy Steps
8 Essential Steps To Start a Sustainable Vegetable Garden
2. Make Reusable Crafts from Recycled Materials
Crafts are a great way to combine fun with learning about the environment. Have your kids collect items from around the house to create their own special masterpieces. Items like cardboard, newspaper and plastic bottles can be reused and repurposed into a variety of different objects. Invite them to use their imagination to come up with enjoyable ideas that promote sustainability and help reduce waste!
If you need some inspiration, I love this idea of DIY Sock Bunnies from mimiblog.org. This is also perfect for the Easter season!
3. Explore Nature and Document It
Get outside and explore nature with your children! Whether it’s in your backyard or at a nearby park, take the opportunity to observe and document all that surrounds you. Have your children draw or take pictures of the animals, plants, and landscapes they encounter. Challenge them to create their own scientific journal with the findings from their adventures!
You can also download my fun Earth Day Activities for Kids and do the nature scavenger hunt! This free download includes:
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Earth Day Word Scramble
- Earth Day Alphabet Game
- Animal Word Search
- Earth Day Hunt Maze
4. Create a Mini Nature Reserve
Go beyond the garden by setting up your own mini nature reserve! Allow your children to nurture small plants and trees around your house or even install birdfeeders or bat boxes in the backyard. Installing nest boxes is beneficial for local wildlife and provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the impacts of urbanization on natural habitats.
For more ideas on things to do for Earth Day with kids, check out my Pinterest board for Mini Nature Reserve Ideas for Kids.
5. Create Art with Nature
Get creative with nature-inspired art projects! Gather items from the garden or outdoors such as leaves, petals, twigs, feathers and flowers to create beautiful nature artwork. Encourage your kids to be imaginative and think of ideas for how they can improve their old pictures or create new ones. Make sure you have plenty of markers, paints, glue and other art supplies on hand so that your children can bring their visions to life!
No matter how you celebrate Earth Day with kids, whether you take a nature walk, make a craft, or enjoy some activity sheets, you are sure to have great fun and conversations!
These are terrific ideas! As a teacher and a mom I appreciate this post. Thank you for sharing!
I love the idea of documenting nature. What a cool concept. Thanks for sharing!
Great ideas for celebrating Earth Day with kiddos! I’m a big fan of upcycling, and the sock bunnies are absolutely darling! Thank you for sharing!
Love these ideas! Going to try some with my kiddos!
Those Stock Stuffers are just too cute! I think it is essential that kids see plants/trees/herbs/fruits grow – it’s a bit like teaching them about themselves – ie – they’re just starting out, but one day they will be fully grown too! Earth Day is such an important day, but every day should be Earth Day!