It’s that time of year again. School’s out and already the kids are complaining that they are bored. Instead of parking them in front of their TV or video games, how about planning environmental activities that are so fun that they won’t even realize they’re educational. Here are a few ideas that will get you and the kids out of the house and active in the environment:

• Plant a garden. It doesn’t have to be huge, but a small plot of land that they plow and plant with vegetables of their choice will give them a sense of entitlement and responsibility.
• Adopt a park. If the kids have a certain park that they love going to, have them “adopt” it and take care of it. Help them to pick up litter here so that their park can stay beautiful and clean.
• Recycle. Teach them what items can be recycled and the benefits of recycling. Label separate waste bins to sort out different recyclable items like paper, glass, and plastic. Challenge them to fill their bins by the end of the week and let them keep the change that they get when they take it to the recycling center!
• Have a yard sale. Instead of throwing away old stuff that will just clog our landfills, have a yard sale (or better yet, donate these things to a local church or thrift shop). Have your kids choose the toys and clothes that they don’t use anymore and let them be your helper during the sale. They will be amazed at how much of their “old” stuff can be repurposed by other people.

Stay tuned for more summer environmental activities and ideas that you can do with your kids this summer!

Earth Day will be celebrated all over the world this year on April 22nd. It’s a day when we celebrate nature and educate ourselves on ways to help preserve the earth.  There are so many fun things you can do with the kids on Earth Day, so don’t let the day go to waste! Here are a few ideas:

• Turn trash into recycled crafts like a tin can planter or milk carton bird feeder!
• Check out an environmental book from the library, such as “Duckey and the Ocean Protectors“, which teaches kids to appreciate and protect the environment.
• Color pictures!
• Take a trip to the local zoo. Have the kids read the signs at each exhibit so that they can appreciate the importance of each animal in our planet’s ecosystem.
• Go see the movie, Earth. Not only does this look like a great movie, but Disney plans to plant a tree for every ticket sold opening weekend.
• Plant your own tree with the family.

Earth Day can be educational and entertaining, so why not participate? You can teach the kids a lot about the world around us by having them take part in environmental holidays!