When my daughter was in high school a few years ago, she pleasantly surprised me when she enrolled in a sustainability course. My parents raised me to be earth-friendly. I strived to do the same with my children. I was pleased that our local school district offered a green course for teens. So, when I received this request from writer, Vikki Gerrard La Crosse WI, to share six fun activities with kids that teach sustainability, it was a natural fit for my blog. Take a look at her ideas and let us know in the comments section what ideas you do with your own family to keep kiddos conscientious about treating our Mother Earth with care.
Guest writer, Vikki says:
Sustainability is a hot topic these days, and rightfully so. As parents and grandparents, we want to do everything we can to protect our planet for future generations. One way to do this is to
teach kids about sustainability early on. Plenty of fun activities can help them learn about this critical issue. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
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1. Pick Up Trash During A Nature Walk
There are numerous benefits to getting out in nature with your kids. It is a great way to stay physically active and explore the world around you and an excellent opportunity to get your kids
involved in sustainability efforts. As you take a nature walk, encourage them to pick up any trash they see along the way. Cleaning up a nature trail instills a sense of responsibility and helps
keep our natural spaces clean and healthy. Bringing a trash bag or two is a great way to make the process easier. Picking up trash is also a great way to teach kids about recyclable materials and how to dispose of them properly. Utilizing a “show and tell” approach is an excellent way to explain why this is important and help them remember the information.
2. Plant A Tree Or Garden
Planting a tree or garden with your kids is a fantastic activity for teaching them about sustainability. It is an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of plants and trees in creating healthy ecosystems and why it is important to plant more of them in our environment. Planting a garden is also beneficial because you can provide your kids with sustainable, homegrown food. When planting a tree or garden, involve your kids in the entire process – from selecting the best spot to digging up the dirt and planting seeds. Planting will help them understand why sustainability is essential and how they can contribute to it.
3. Make A Compost Pile
Completing a compost pile is another excellent activity to teach kids about sustainability. Composting is an easy way to recycle organic waste into valuable soil, which can be used in gardening or other outdoor activities. It’s also a great hands-on experience for children and helps them understand the importance of reducing waste and reusing what we have. Making a compost pile together is a great way to teach your kids about the connection between soil and healthy plants and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. Be sure to discuss all the different materials that can be used for composting and explain how it helps keep our earth healthier.
4. Go On A Recycling Scavenger Hunt
Going on a recycling scavenger hunt is an excellent way to teach kids about sustainability. Start by giving them a list of items that can be recycled and then challenge them to find all the objects
around your house. This activity helps kids understand the importance of recycling and encourages them to look for ways to contribute to sustainability efforts. By going on a recycling scavenger hunt, kids will learn more about the materials that can be recycled and become more conscious of their consumption habits. Once they’ve found all the items on the list, you can discuss different ways to recycle them properly.
5. Build A Birdhouse
Building a birdhouse is another fun way to teach kids about sustainability. This project helps them understand the importance of providing shelter and food for birds and how they can contribute to protecting our environment. Plus, it’s a great way to get creative and excitingly use recyclable materials. Building a birdhouse together is a great way to teach your kids the basics of sustainability. Be
sure to discuss how birds play an essential role in our ecosystem and why creating habitats for them is vital. This will help them understand the importance of protecting our environment and
how we can all do our part to make a difference.
6. Take Part In A Beach Clean-Up
Taking part in a beach clean-up is a great way to get your kids involved in sustainability efforts.
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This activity helps them understand our trash's impact on our environment and why it’s essential to take responsibility for keeping our beaches and oceans clean. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity for them to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Explain to your kids why cleaning up our beaches is essential and how their efforts will help protect our environment. Discuss how pollution is a significant concern for the health of ocean life and explain why it’s necessary to reduce our consumption of single-use plastics. This will help them understand why it’s crucial to participate in beach clean-ups and how their small efforts can make a big difference.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few activities you can do with your kids to teach them about sustainability. Nomatter which activity you choose, explain why sustainability is essential and how it affects our
environment. Vikki Gerrard La Crosse WI believes this will help them understand the importance of taking action to protect our planet and become more conscious of their consumption habits.
Doing activities like these together is a great way to foster an appreciation for the environment in your children and create a lifelong commitment to sustainability.
About today’s guest writer:
Vikki Gerrard is a mother from La Crosse, Wisconsin who has dedicated her time to caring for her family and promoting eco-friendly habits around the home. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading and writing articles to help others learn more about easy ways to live sustainably.
Today’s guest post is a sponsored article that managedmoms.com is proud to partner with to spread the word about earth-friendly ideas for kids.
