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Little Ways to Make a Big Impact For Earth Day

On Earth Day, April 22, show your kids how saving the planet is really cool. Taking action and talking to your kids about their impact doesn’t have to be a big lift. Celebrate Mother Earth this year with these ideas to teach your kids about Earth Day and start habits that will last a lifetime.

What is Earth Day?

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 after decades of efforts to raise public awareness of the link between pollution and public health. Environmentalists, activists, journalists, and public officials spent years, and in many cases, lifetimes, creating urgency on the environmental concerns impacting our planet.

Today, nearly 200 countries and thousands of environmental groups worldwide are saving the planet, and its natural resources through campaigns over one billion people support.

Earth Day is one day a year when these organizations, trailblazers, and your family can all come together to recognize that it takes everyone to save our planet - one action at a time. The daily lessons you create with your kids turn into daily habits that will last a lifetime.

Recycle at Every Chance

The most straightforward way to explain to your kids that there are limited resources on this earth is simply by recycling. We understand there are many different ways to recycle, but if you have the space, separate paper, plastic, glass, and trash and teach your kids how to reuse these materials.

If your city has a recycling program, ask them to help you separate recycling from trash and bring everything to the curb on trash day.
Take your kids to the recycling center and show them how your community makes the world cleaner.
You can recycle glass and metal in some states for a small reward. Ask your kids to collect and take them to the recycling center for a little cash. Talk about why glass and metals are essential - it saves on production and energy costs if we just turn them back into the same materials!
Many grocery stores have plastic recycling bins outside to collect plastics. Collect the plastic used for your sandwich bread and toy wrappings, and bring them to the grocery store together when you shop.
Identify unassuming items around the house that are recyclable - paper towel and tissue paper tubes, toothpaste tubes, and shipping boxes.

Turn Off Lights

We often remember our parents scolding us for not turning off the lights because “money doesn’t grow on trees.” But there’s an important environmental reason to keep the lights off!

Turn those lights off when you leave the house or are not in a room. It helps reduce carbon emissions and other harmful greenhouse gases. Simply turning off the lights is an easy way for your family to help protect the environment and save the planet.

Create Earth Day Crafts

There is no better reason to repurpose than for the sake of art! Repurpose everyday items around the house on Earth Day to create these fun activities with your children:

Paint metal cans with colorful shapes and plant flowers for a friendly gift. (May we suggest succulents?)
Use newspaper to wrap gifts, create paper mache projects, and paint new art. Don’t be intimidated by all of the black-and-white writing!
Cut paper towel cardboard tubes to make frogs, ladybugs, and wiggly worms.
Use empty milk cartons to build new homes for the bugs (outside!) or create a bird feeder to hang in your tree.
Take medium- to large-size rocks and paint Earth Day images before handing them to a friend.

Take Action this Year

Kickstart your message of reuse, repurpose, and recycle with a day of action. Earth Day is celebrated worldwide, and many communities organize special events for families to learn how small actions make big impacts. Check local groups and sources for events. Here are some ideas:

Libraries have readings and activities.
Local parks and recreation centers organize clean-up days.
Your school will have walks and events to create a Secret Garden.
Businesses in your community will organize clean-up events, recycling programs, and kids' activities.
Plant a tree. It’s a simple project with a big impact - trees filter the air, provide shade to reduce heat in urban areas, and improve mental health. Help future generations enjoy your small act.
Visit a local farm to see how they grow vegetables, and learn how special earth really can be.

Earth Day is an important way to kick-start a lifetime of habits so your kids will protect and enjoy the planet. This is just a small example of what you can do with your family and how you can be a strong community advocate - help us enjoy Sunshine for generations to come.