Earth Day with kids

It's Earth Day! The kids here and I have been learning about outer space, sun, stars and of course, our planet, Earth! I wanted to share with you our fun and easy ways we have been helping our planet.

Friday, my sons, along with their two cousins and I  headed outside and cleaned up part of our ditch on our road. Sadly, we didn't even get as far as we hoped before filling 4 garbage bags and a wagon. I was proud of the kids for their dedication and how much trash they were able to grab and help clean our Earth. It is also nice to see them feel proud and know they are doing something instead of nothing to celebrate Earth Day and help their home.  As we were walking and picking up trash, one of my neighbors had even came down their driveway and thanked us for picking up the ditches. Of course we had gloves on and everyone needed to wash their hands when we got back from filling our bags.

Another fun way the kids and I like to help our planet is recycling! Rather its bringing the recyclables somewhere to be recycled or doing fun activities! One of our favorite ways is reusing milk jugs or other size bottles to make bird feeders! Not only are you reusing the plastic rather than just tossing it but you're helping provide some of the wildlife with good food all year round. (don't forget, birds need to eat in the winter months too!) The thing to know about plastic is that it survives FOR A VERY LONG TIME. It is very tough stuff. We don't want to be throwing it away and having it in our land or someday floating in the waters. Reuse it!
 Other ways to reuse plastic could be for
- making fun pen or pencil holders
-musical shakers
-twisters in a water bottle (I'm sure Pinterest has fun ways to create this!)
-sensory bottles. In the past I have filled bottles with Dr. Seuss supplies to celebrate Dr.Seuss's birthday!

 reusing paper towel or toilet paper rolls
for fun crafts! Binoculars or like we're doing this week, telescopes.

 cascade containers or fun boxes.
 Here, Ben and I use to get Keto boxes from onnit or graze snack boxes in the mail. Instead of just throwing them away, I have saved plenty of them for future nature walks we will have this summer!! Each kid will get their own box, decorate it and any treasures they may find can be put in their recycled boxes!

I not only want to take care of our planet and help provide a nicer home for our children (and our future grandchildren) when they grow up but I absolutely enjoy sharing with the kids how many easy ways they can grow up to learn to help keep their planet be safer for the them AND the wildlife they enjoy seeing. As PBS "Nature Cat" and his friends sing "Its Earth Day everyday...Its even better than your birthday and we will do our part!"