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Happy spring, friends! As temperatures continue to climb and daylight lengthens, there’s no time like the present to get out into nature and enjoy all she has to offer. If you have little ones in your life, spring is the perfect time to introduce the topic of environmental protection and enjoy tons of teachable moments while engaging in eco-friendly activities.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite activities to get young eco warriors passionate about protecting and enjoying the great outdoors.
Composting is a great way to help the planet and learn the science behind how plant material breaks down in the environment. If you have room in your backyard, have your kids help you start a compost pile. Discuss with them the many benefits of having a compost pile—it transforms certain table scraps and leftover foods into “super dirt” that can keep plants and flowers healthy—and let them help you set up your pile. Click here to see a kid-friendly presentation on composting.
No space for a large compost pile? No worries! Your littles can still learn about the benefits of composting by making a mini composter using a repurposed plastic soda bottle. PBS Kids has a great tutorial for creating a composter that sits on your counter, allowing kids to see how plant materials break down over time and create rich compost.
Kids LOVE to see the growth cycle of plants and watch the fruits and vegetables that they eat grow before their eyes. Kids Gardening, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children and the planet through gardening, has an amazing collection of gardening activities that can be searched according to the age of your child.
If you don’t have the space for a large garden, Kids Gardening also has directions for creating a container garden, allowing children to enjoy the magic of gardening on a back porch or patio.
Scavenger hunts are such a fun way to enjoy nature while having an adventure…and a bit of healthy competition. Scavenger hunts allow you to “hunt” anywhere—local parks, your neighborhood…even your own backyard—and you aren’t disturbing the natural environment. No need to pick flowers…simply find one and mark it off on your card. It’s a wonderful way to teach children how to enjoy the outdoors without disturbing it.
There are plenty of nature scavenger hunt cards on the internet you can download and print. We love this one from The Pragmatic Parent and this one from My Open Country that lets kids color in the pictures.
It doesn’t take much to help children fall deeper in love with the beauty and mystery of the natural world. After all, they often seem more deeply connected to the earth and all its’ wonder than adults. Now is the time to nurture that love of nature and instill in them the importance of being good stewards of the planet.
So, get out there and soak up the beauty and magic of the outdoors with the littles in your life.
Here’s to enjoying eco-friendly activities together!
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