Eco-Friendly AND Kid-Friendly Activities

There are many things that we teach our children, from how to take their first steps and how to climb stairs to how to do math.  However, there are also a number of things that are best taught to our children by actually playing with them. Studies have shown that children learn the fastest when they’re actually having fun, which is why more schools are attempting to make learning fun, and why we should do the same at home. This same thought process holds true for being eco-friendly. If you’re interested in saving the environment, and want to promote the same feelings in your children, there are many kid-friendly activities that you can do with them that are also eco-friendly.  This will not only help them to learn about the world around them, but it will also strengthen the bond between the whole family.

Gardening

One of the easiest ways to teach your youngster about nature is to start a garden! Gardening is a great activity because it can be enjoyed by children of all ages, from those who are two to those who are in college.  They’re also very easy to start. If you’ve got a yard, even a little one, you can have a little garden.  If you don’t have a yard, you can always plant some vegetables or some flowers in pots around your home.

In order to really immerse your children in the experience, ask them what kind of ingredients they’d like to have to eat. Discuss fruits and vegetables (it’s a good idea to know, before you discuss the situation, which vegetables and fruits can grow in your area so that they don’t get their hopes up that they can grow an orange tree if that type of tree can’t grow in your area) and talk about which fruits and vegetables they like. Take them to a farmer’s market and spend some time seeing, and smelling, and tasting, all of the delicious foods that surround you.

Then start your garden! Young children simply like to dig into the dirt, while older children can be taught about the types of soil, and how to prepare the soil and plant the plants. Toddlers can even have their own little shovel and can help to put seeds into the soil.  Then, when it’s time to harvest, teach them how to carefully take the fruit or veggie out of the garden and then incorporate it into their meals!

Hiking Around

When was the last time that you took a hike? Many parents take stock of the things that they’ve done with their children, and how they’ve taken them to places that they always wanted to see as a child.  Have you taken your children hiking? Hiking can be an amazing way to not only learn about the land, but to reconnect as a family. When you’re walking through the woods or through the mountains, you can enjoy the quiet that you find during your hike and you can take all the time you want to talk about how things are going for all of you.

Even young children can enjoy hiking, although it’s important that parents remember that they can only hike so far. If you have a toddler, you’ll want to invest in a toddler backpack, and even children who are four or five may need some help walking after a time, as their little legs are only able to hold their body for so long. When you’re hiking, you can point out things that are there in nature, like little animals or the flora and fauna of the area.

Recycling Crafts

Another fun thing to do when you have children is to make crafts out of things that you find around the house. There are many things that you’ll find around the house that you can reuse, such as toilet paper or paper towel rolls. There are lots of crafts that you can make out of these few things, including simple things like making a pirate’s spy glass. How much fun would a little boy or girl have running around pretending to be a pirate?  What’s even more enjoyable is that they get to make the toy themselves, which often means that they’ll have much more respect for it than if they had just purchased it in a store.

There are lots of things that you can do with your children that are eco-friendly, no matter whether you’re able to take advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather, or if you’re in the middle of winter. Even during the long winder months you can get outside and enjoy the weather! Spend some time with your children and find some eco-friendly activities and you’ll find that you have a great time as well as teaching them to care for the environment.!