We Only Have One Earth

As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, it is the perfect time to engage children in fun and meaningful activities that promote environmental awareness and stewardship. From hands-on crafts to inspiring books, here are some suggestions to make this Earth Day engaging for kids:

DIY Upcycling: Make Your Own Bird Feeder

One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is by repurposing everyday items to create something new and useful. A simple and enjoyable DIY activity for kids is making their own bird feeders using recycled materials. Not only does this activity teach kids about going green, but it also encourages creative thinking and gives an opportunity for children to connect with nature. Hearing the birds chirping outside is a great way to increase biophilic responses, as nature sounds are found to have positive impacts on our health and wellbeing.

Supplies needed:

• One tin can, clean and label removed.
• Paint of assorted colours (acrylic/water resistant) or decorative paper
• Paint brushes (if using paint)
• Ribbons/ strings
• Bird Seed
• Sturdy stick to act as a perch for the birds.

Instructions to put it together:

• Take the paper off of your tin can and paint the can in the desired colour. Leave it to dry and add another coat of paint if needed. You can also use decorative paper to wrap up the tin can instead of painting.
• If using paint, let the paint dry and add whatever other decorative elements you want using other colours.
• When the paint is dry, cut a long piece of ribbon about 18 to 24 inches long and tie it around one end of the tin can, leaving the two long edges at the top. Tie the two ends together to loop over a branch for hanging.
• Repeat this on the other end of the tin.
• Glue the stick into the can to function as a perch.
• When the glue is set, fill the can about halfway with seed and hang it sideways from a branch.

Your Earth Day craft is finished! Now hang it in the balcony or garden and sit back and watch the birds come in for a snack with your kids! Sometimes it can take a week for the birds to discover and start feeding from this new feeder so be patient.

Books to Inspire Young Environmentalists

Reading together is another wonderful way to introduce children to important environmental concepts and here are four recommended books to read to/with their kids this month:

1. “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss: This classic tale tells the story of the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, and teaches children about the importance of conservation and protecting our natural resources.
2. “Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa” by Jeanette Winter – Based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, this book tells the inspiring tale of how she empowered her community in Kenya to plant trees and restore the environment, ultimately leading to her winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
3. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein: It is a cautionary tale about human exploitation of nature and the consequences of taking more than we give back.
4. “The Earth Book” by Todd Parr: In this colorful book, Todd Parr highlights different ways children can help take care of the Earth, such as conserving water, planting trees, and recycling.

Hope these activities are able to instill appreciation for the earth at a young age and empower our children to become stewards of the earth.

Let’s make every day Earth Day!