10 easy and fun ways to honor Earth Month

By Stacie Gaetz

When my five-year-old son recently asked what Earth Day was, I knew it was time to step up and not just tell him but show him.

I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to learn with my kids about the planet we call home and celebrate the people, environments and wildlife that make Earth special.

But why limit it to one day? We decided to find small ways to make the world a better place throughout the month of April.

For our family, the most important part of Earth Month revolves around the concept of leaving the Earth better than we found it.

We are celebrating the planet while making good choices about conserving resources, recycling and reusing the materials we can in an attempt to live more sustainably.

Here are a few ideas of simple, fun and educational activities you and your kids can take part in for Earth Month.

1. Get growing

This early in the season, it can be a bit hard to get your hands dirty in the garden in Calgary, but you can start to grow plants that you will transfer to your garden indoors. If you don’t have space or time for an outdoor garden, get some indoor plants to take care of and teach your children about their lifecycle, photosynthesis, and respiration. Knowing that plants are living things and how they help us can encourage your children to take care of them and preserve them in nature.

2. Recycle

If your family is anything like mine, it is the kids that remind the parents to recycle responsibly, not the other way around! However, it can be important to go over important aspects of recycling like the importance of removing labels and rinsing out items. Looking up stats on how many plastic items are recycled each year (and therefore kept out of the landfills) can be inspiring.

3. Reuse

Teach your children the importance of reusing items rather than throwing them away. Can that food container be decorated and upcycled into a pencil holder? Could those broken crayons be melted down into a candle? This goes for clothes and toys as well. Go through your children’s closets and toy boxes and get them to choose things that do not fit or they do not play with anymore. Then pack them up together and bring them to a family you know who will use them or a donation centre.

4. Bird watch

Put a bird feeder in your yard and watch your avian friends (and other creatures?) who come to visit. Learn about the different species, how they fly, what else they eat and more. This doesn’t have to cost any money and includes it’s own recycle/reusing lesson as you can make a bird feeder out of a number of things including an old soda bottle or milk carton or even a piece of bread or toilet paper roll.

5. Endangered animals

Work together to learn about endangered animal species and what we, as humans, can do to help ensure their safety. Look up the animals your children are interested in online or go to the library to learn more.

6. Stargaze

One way to appreciate what our planet has to offer is by looking beyond it. Choose a clear night and sit outside with some sweaters, blankets and hot chocolate to take in the natural wonder. Guess the constellations or use an app to look them up.

7. Visit a local farmer’s market or ranch

What better way to celebrate the land we live on than to learn about the food it gives us. Try to talk to a local farmer or rancher about what they do. Encourage your children to ask them any questions they have about how the food they eat gets from the field to their plate.

8. Transform your transport

Take a break from your car and let your children think of other ways that you can get from point A to point B. Of course, you will still need to use your vehicle throughout the month, but whenever possible, try to think of an alternative like taking the bus to the library or riding your bikes or scooters to the grocery store to pick up an item.

9. Clean a local park

Grab some gloves and garbage bags and bring your children to a local park. Pick up all the garbage you see in the area. Make sure you warn your children about anything they shouldn’t touch and tell them to come and get you if they are unsure.

10. Go for a hike

Appreciate nature by getting out in it. Go for a hike and take in the wonders around you. Listen to the babbling creek, pick up a fallen leaf or branch, watch a curious squirrel as it scampers up a tree.

This Earth Month is a great time to enjoy the sights and sounds of our beautiful planet with your kids and remember why it is important that we take care of it.