Don't Use Your Car Unless Necessary

Car pollution is a major cause of global warming. Because they need fossil fuels to function, cars emit carbon dioxide and plenty of other greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing a significant rise in temperature.

Therefore, you should avoid unnecessary car rides all year long. However, if you want to instill an eco-conscious mindset in your children, Earth Day is an amazing time to teach them about how cars can harm the environment. Additionally, make this day a car-free day.

If you need to take your kids to school, opt for biking or walking instead of driving. Alternatively, if you live too far away, use public transport. Make the journey fun for your kids and if they ask you why you're not driving them to school, be patient and answer their questions.

Organize Outdoor Activities

Spring is the perfect season for long hikes and outdoor activities. Since Earth Day falls on April 22nd, it's an ideal time to explore nature with your family. There are plenty of outdoor activities you can do with your kids.

Firstly, you can go to a nearby park and let them play and run around. Bring kites and hula hoops, or play dodgeball with them. Outdoor games are a great way to keep your kids active and introduce them to the beauty of nature.

Secondly, you can bring your camera and photograph nature with your children. Let them take pictures of trees, flowers, and animals, and hang the photographs in your home. Keeping photographs of nature in your home is a great way to remind yourself and your children what you're preserving.

Lastly, organize a picnic with your family. Bring snacks for the kids and coffee for the adults. Your kids can play and run around while you relax and read a book. However, make sure to pick up the trash before you leave.

Make a Birdhouse With Your Kids

If you have a yard, building a birdhouse or a bird feeder with your kids is an amazing activity to celebrate Earth Day with. Seeing the birds use a house or a feeder your child has built will install a sense of appreciation for nature in them. Additionally, feeding the birds daily will make them feel closer to nature and animals. You can buy a birdhouse kit for children that comes with pre-cut wood pieces.

However, if you don't want to buy a kit, there are plenty of ways you can make a house and a feeder with things you already have in your home. For example, you can use a water bottle to make a bird feeder. Alternatively, you can cut up a shoebox or a cereal box and make a birdhouse from it. Still, if you want the birdhouse to stand the test of time, it's best to build it from wood.

Sort Through the Recycling Together

It's important to educate your children on the importance of recycling. However, listening to you lecture them on a topic may bore them. Instead, make recycling fun for the whole family.

For example, a great way to help your kids learn about recycling is to decorate recycling bins with them. Draw or cut out photos of paper, plastic bottles, and aluminum and glue them to the corresponding bins.

Once your kids know what goes in which bin, you can sort the waste into them together. Alternatively, make the sorting process a friendly competition. One person can sort the plastic while the other sorts paper and so on. The person that finishes their task first wins!

Harvest Your Own Food

If you have a garden, include your whole family in the harvesting process. Children can learn a lot about food and nature by picking the food they will eat later. Alternatively, if you don't have a garden, Earth Day is the perfect day to plant something.

Buy vegetable seeds and sprouts and plant them with your kids. Growing fruit and vegetables with your children is a great way to educate them on the importance of healthy, organic food.

However, you may not have a yard to grow your own food in. Luckily, nowadays you can find plenty of pick-your-own farms all over the world. You can take your kids on a road trip to the nearest farm and pick fresh fruits and vegetables with them.

Make a Healthy Meal Together

Having a healthy, home-cooked dinner with your family is an excellent way to end the day. On Earth Day, try to make a meal using fresh foods that are in season. You can combine this activity with the one we mentioned above and make the cooking process fun for the whole family. 

Alternatively, head to your favorite farmer's market with your kids and look for fresh, organic produce. Bring your own bags, of course, as you don't want to end up with plastic bags you won't be able to recycle. Additionally, include your children in the cooking process. For example, they can wash the produce or cut it if they're old enough.

In Conclusion

With these six activities, you can make sure the next Earth Day with your family is both educational and fun. However, make sure you remain eco-friendly all year long. Try to use as little plastic as possible and opt for walking or public transport when you can. Your kids will learn from your behavior, and you'll make Earth a better place together.