Ways to Teach Your Child About Earth Day

Earth Day is meant to show support for the many environmental concerns and initiatives to keep our Earth clean and healthy. Here are some ways to teach your child about Earth Day:

• Read books - There are many books available to introduce your child to ways they can care for the Earth (like recycling or conserving energy). What Matters By Alison Hughes is a great picture book; The Summer We Saved the Bees by Robin Stevenson is great fiction for junior/intermediate reader
• Spend time outdoors - Get outside and go on a nature walk. Pay attention to the sounds and colours.
• Teach them about conservation - Teach them not only how to conserve energy but money too! Turning lights off or unplugging things when not in use, shutting the water off when they are brushing their teeth or doing dishes.
• Plant something in a pot or in your backyard - This could be a fun project you work on together. You could plant herbs, vegetables or a flower. You could also incorporate a little Math and Literacy by having them document its growth on a graph and write a few sentences in a journal.
• Create a compost bin - Composting cuts down on your garbage and is a great nutrient for your outdoor plants.
• Create recycled art - You can paint old tin cans to hold art materials, rocks or your toothbrushes

Tell us in the comments how you celebrate Earth Day!