World Earth Day falls on 22 April every year and has come a long way since its first celebration in 1970. This day is celebrated in the effort to raise environmental awareness and encourage people to take positive actions that will protect nature. In all honesty, preserving our environment is no longer a choice, it is now a necessity!
Currently, our planet is in serious threat. From the increasing occurrence of all forms of pollution, deforestation, open burning, climate changes, over-population, overfishing and more. Hence, the more reason to start educating our future generation on the many possible ways they can take to maintain and save the environment.
This year, as we celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, we are also faced with a one of a kind pandemic in our lifetimes.
Even though we’re still battling Covid-19, we should not let this pandemic put an end to celebrate our first true home – Earth. Although we should not gather to celebrate Earth Day, we most definitely can honour it at home and engage with activities that hold the entire family’s interest. Plus, this would be a great time to introduce what the earth looks like and how to care for it to toddlers. So, here are a few unique Earth Day activities that involve the family and if you enjoyed it, perhaps you could turn it into a tradition too!
Think outside the house
Gardening is a common project that many choose to do to honour Earth Day, but what about taking this idea to a whole new level? Start a garden with your family on this Earth Day that your family can tend to all year-round.
Customise your garden by including each family member’s favourite herbs, flowers, fruits or vegetables. Continue this tradition every year and let everyone choose something new to add to the garden on Earth Day. In the long run, you will be able to enjoy some of the best tasting fruits, vegetables and herbs!
Art and crafts
Making posters of endangered flora and fauna is a wonderful way to educate children of all ages about all plants and animals. The more attached you are towards Mother Nature, the more likely you will be to protect it. So, use this opportunity to raise awareness about endangered species such as their habitats, the threats they’re facing and how your children can contribute to save them. This might also interest them to explore a career in relation to the environment that will surely bring a difference in the world.
As your children work on the posters, ask them to include specific details and characteristics of what they’re working on.
Sort the recyclables-game
This game is ideal for toddlers as it is a fun way to introduce the basics of repurposing waste and be sure to include products that represent the 3R (repurpose, reuse, recycle). Here’s how to do it:
- In a trash bag, include items you already have at home such as cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, wrappers, empty bottles, glass jars, straws, papers, junk mail, and fabric scraps.
- Once you’re done with that, label four boxes as repurpose, recycle, reuse, and landfill and place them in your living room or on the porch.
- Then, get your kids to pick an item out of the trash bag and put it in the boxes they thought made the most sense.
Prior to the game, explain to your children what are the 3R’s along with the term ‘landfill’. This whole game will give you a good glimpse of what your children understand about the environment and the products we use in our daily lives.
Watch a documentary about earth
You might not be able to go out as much as you normally would on Earth Day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate it! Instead, sit back, relax and watch movies or documentaries about earth without having to leave your couch. If you’re watching with children below age 12, then we suggest picking family-centric movies. They will surely love the screen time, plus you’ll be able to get the wheels turning on how they can do their part to protect the planet.
This is an ideal way to teach your children about global warming and endangered flora and fauna, especially if they’re a little too young to have a conversation about global warming. Here’s a few you would want to watch:
- Wall-E
- Earth
- The Lorax
- March of the Penguins
- Free Willy
Adopt for a better future
Be a saviour and support the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) by virtually adopting some of the world’s most vulnerable animals. As a consequence of that, you will be protecting precious habitats all around the world.
Virtual Adoption is a process in which you advocate a better life and living opportunity for abandoned or endangered animals. Some of the species that are up for virtual adoption are elephants, penguins, snow leopard, orangutan, polar bear, jaguar, gorilla, rhinoceros, dolphin and more. To find out more on the adoption terms, visit https://support.wwf.org.uk/ adopt-an-animal or https://www.zoonegaramalaysia.my/adopt.html.
Make earth day a family tradition
Raise a generation that cares for the world they live in by continuing Earth Day activities with your family every year from now. Also, get them to pitch in some fun projects they would like to try on in the upcoming years. So, help your kids or grandchildren develop an appreciation and love towards nature as it will reward them in many ways throughout their lives.
Sources: scholastic, National Geographic, Zoo Negara Malaysia, WWF
