earth day

  • GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Teaching Sustainability to the Next Generation: Eco-Friendly Activities for Kids

    Teaching our kids about the importance of taking care of our planet is one of the most important things we can do as parents. It may sound overwhelming or intimidating, but there are lots of easy and simple ways to get kids involved in sustainability actions and thinking about our planet. Today, Army vet, RN, and Florida mom of two, Lea Reynolds is here to show parents how easy it can be to lead by example by making eco-conscious choices. She’s included great advice on how to get kids involved in the process, as well as 60+ eco-friendly actions for kids and fun ways to get kids excited about sustainability. 

    eco-friendly sustainability activities for kids

     

    Every day is Earth Day

    Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd that aims to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions that help protect the planet. Earth Day is the largest secular holiday in the world, with more than 500 million people taking part in 174 countries around the world.

    While Earth Day can provide an opportunity for people to learn about the causes and impacts of climate change, it’s not the only day to take action to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices. Action needs to start with us and with teaching/showing the next generation how to protect the world they will grow up in.

    We strongly belive that our incredible planet should be celebrated every day – not just one day a year. We hope this post will encourage you to choose to honor, protect, and preserve our planet throughout the year with your actions and teachings. We’ll show you how!  

    Photo credit: @dimples.and.the.blonde

    Get children involved in the process

    Kids naturally want to be involved in the things we (their parents) are passionate about. Give your kids the opportunity to participate in your eco-friendly actions and help make decisions on sustainable changes for your home and life. Getting your child on board from an early age teaches them so many valuable lessons and makes eco-conscious decision-making second nature.

    It’s never too early to start talking about sustainability with your children. Adults don’t give kids enough credit – they understand more than we often realize. When your child is stuck in a cycle of “I want,” it’s much easier to transition out of it when they realize the impact all those “wants” have on our planet. The more time we spend discussing how our actions can impact the world around us, the more our children will learn. Then we’ll have a whole generation of environmental thinkers and activists coming up after us…how wonderful would that be?!

    Eco-friendly activities for kids

    Sustainability activities for kids

    There are many ways to get involved in taking care of our planet; whether it’s by participating in local events, volunteering for environmental organizations, or making lifestyle changes that promote sustainability. No matter how you choose to be more sustainable and eco-conscious, we hope you’ll involve your children and teach them about each of our individual responsibility to care for our planet. 

    Below, we’ve included a huge list of 60+ eco-friendly sustainability activities that you can do with your kids to make an impact. These are great hands-on activities that will help your child connect to the planet and teach them about the importance of sustainability from an early age. But, before we get to the list, there are a few action items that I want to talk about in a bit more detail: picking up trash, the 3 R’s, gardening, Junior Ranger programs, shopping small/local, and getting outside. Each of these things can have a huge impact on our planet and are easy to incorporate into our daily lives. 

    getting kids involved in sustainability

    Clean up trash when you’re out and about

    Encouraging kids to pick up trash in nature is a great way to teach them about the importance of protecting the environment and its inhabitants. When plastic, glass, and other types of litter are left on the beach, in a river, or anywhere outside, they can harm local creatures, such as turtles, fish, and birds, who can mistake it for food or get tangled up in it. 

    It is important to help kids understand the WHY behind what you’re doing. Why do people litter, and why is it important for us to clean it up? Talk them through scenarios and what the consequences of our actions (good and bad ones) are. For example, my son found this plastic bag on the beach. We discussed that a sea turtle could easily mistake this for a jellyfish, and he immediately sprang into action. He realized we needed to throw it away so the turtle wouldn’t get hurt. When children understand the why, they make it second nature to help, and they learn to teach others.

    We hope you’ll add a clean-up bag to your adventure gear, so you can clean up trash anytime you’re out enjoying nature. This is an easy way to incorporate sustainability actions into your everyday activities. If you want to get more involved in an organized effort, research cleanups hosted by local organizations in your area and sign your family up to participate. By engaging in such activities, it instills a sense of community, responsibility, and stewardship in kids, encouraging them to take care of the planet and its natural resources.

    *Adult supervision is always recommended so kids do not pick up anything dangerous.

    Practice the three R’s at home

    Teaching kids about sustainable living is crucial for building a sustainable future. One way to do this is by incorporating environmental education into their daily lives. By now, most people have heard of those three Rs…reduce, reuse and recycle. While it’s a catchy phrase and sounds amazing as an environmental campaign, we’ve relied too heavily on the recycling part, which is not the answer to our trash problems. We need to spend a bit more time also reducing our consumption and reusing what we already have. 

    Reducing your consumption of consumer items is the very best way to reduce the amount of trash your family sends to a landfill. We cannot recycle our way out of excessive consumerism – we need to buy less stuff. Before purchasing something new, stop and ask yourself these questions: (1) Do I really need this? (2) Do I already own something that can be used in this item’s place? (3) Is purchasing this item worth the environmental costs of resources, production, shipping, and landfill space once it’s been discarded?

    Reusing what you already have is the most eco-friendly option of all! And it’s budget-friendly. If you want to put the concept of reusing (or repurposing) items to good use, you might have to get creative! Before tossing something in the trash, think to yourself, “Is there another way I can use this item?” Not only does repurposing mean we get to reduce our waste, but we also find ways to be creative, active, and involved. Kids are super creative and great at coming up with new ideas and ways to use things! Be sure to get them involved. 

    Photo credit: @sara_mccartygardening with kids is an eco-conscious activityPhoto credit: @meghangarriott

    Gardening

    Gardening is another excellent way to teach kids about sustainable living, as it can help them learn about how plants grow and how to care for the environment. By starting and growing a garden, you can teach children about the natural world and where their food comes from. Kids can learn how to plant and care for seeds, how to compost and recycle, and how to use natural methods to control pests and diseases. Gardening is a fun way to help children develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their accomplishments as they watch their plants grow and thrive.

    Growing their own food can also inspire children to try new vegetables and fruits, which can lead to healthier eating habits. By teaching kids to grow their own food, we can help them develop important life skills and instill a sense of respect and appreciation for the environment. Gardening can also help reduce food waste and cut down on food packaging waste and transportation costs. 

    Photo credit: Anna Stopińska-Lewucha

    Earn a Junior Ranger badge

    Get kids excited about nature at a national park. Visit a national park in your area with your child. Many have activity books to follow while you explore. The Junior Ranger program is a great way to get kids involved in protecting and preserving local parks and natural areas. By participating in this program, kids can learn about the history, wildlife, and ecology of their local park or reserve and engage in fun, educational activities that help them develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

    The Junior Ranger program offers a wide range of unique and location-specific activities, from guided hikes and wildlife observation to ranger-led talks and interactive exhibits. Through these activities, kids can gain a sense of connection and responsibility to their local environment and learn about the importance of conservation and sustainability. The Junior Ranger program is a fun and educational way to get kids involved in environmental stewardship and instill a lifelong love of nature.

    Photo credit: @roaminggonzalez

    Shop small and local

    When you shop at small, locally owned businesses, you’re not only making an eco-friendly decision, but one that’s great for your local community. When you purchase at small locally-owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in your community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers, and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base.

    Small local businesses usually set up shop in the town center, providing a centralized variety that is much friendlier to a community’s walk score than out-of-town shopping malls. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss, and pollution. 

    Teach kids about supporting small businesses. Shop local. Here in Florida, we have kids’ business groups that promote kids with small businesses, such as lemonade stands, and craft stands. It instills responsibility and a sense of pride. This helps to protect the Earth from mass-produced materials and aims to keep our landfills free of trash and waste.

    We have recently started a small business that focuses on small batches of beach attire for the whole family. Our son loves helping us design and create our products!

    Get outside

    Perhaps the single most important thing you can do to make your child aware of the environment and want to protect it is to spend time in it with them. Show them the beauty of our planet and let them learn to love it on their own. Parents can also take their kids to parks, nature reserves, botanical gardens, arboretums, zoos, and other outdoor areas to teach them about the importance of protecting and preserving natural habitats and wildlife.

    Need ideas on how to get outside or what to do…check out the rest of our website and sign up to get on our weekly newsletter, which is filled with outdoor activities and ideas! 

    using little free libraries are great eco-friendly actions

    60+ eco-friendly activities for kids

    1. Pick up trash at a local park (or on a trail, or in your neighborhood, etc.)
    2. Set up a scrap paper reusing station in your home
    3. Use a cloth bag at the grocery store
    4. Set up a bird feeder (or make a DIY eco-friendly bird feeder)
    5. Go for a family bike ride
    6. Play in the water (lake, creek, beach, stream, etc.)
    7. Start a compost bin (and compost something!)
    8. Use a reusable water bottle
    9. Start a nature journal (or add to an existing nature journal)
    10. Make sculptures, art, or robots using items in your recycling bin
    11. Plant something (e.g. garden, flowers, vegetables, tree, herbs, etc.)
    12. Identify a new plant or animal (we love the Seek by iNaturalist app)
    13. Watch a nature documentary
    14. Check out books from your local library
    15. Make your own DIY herbal cleaner
    16. Attend a local Earth Day festival in your area
    17. Go on a nature scavenger hunt
    18. Use a magnifying glass or pocket microscope to view nature close-up
    19. Go barefoot in the grass
    20. Create a mandala using items found in nature
    21. Donate unused seeds to a seed library
    22. Go screen-free for the day
    23. Wildflower bomb your yard
    24. Enjoy a meal outside!
    25. Visit a little free library (and leave a few books for others)
    26. Donate gently used clothes/toys/books to charity
    27. Make a terrarium
    28. Visit a local farmer’s market
    29. Recycle something
    30. Go for a hike (or even just a walk around your neighborhood)
    31. Forage violets for color-changing syrup
    32. Make nature crowns (from leaves, flowers, shells, etc.)
    33. Build a fort in the woods
    34. Read an educational book about our planet, nature, or wildlife
    35. Make seed paper cards
    36. Build an insect hotel
    37. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
    38. Swap out plastic containers for paper products
    39. Repurpose something you were going to throw away
    40. Shop local & small businesses
    41. Visit a national park and earn a Junior Ranger badge
    42. Eat a meatless meal
    43. Watch the sunset
    44. Turn off all lights in your home
    45. Do a nature-inspired STEAM activity
    46. Unplug devices you’re not using
    47. Make your own nature paintbrush
    48. Build your own rain barrel
    49. Purchase something second-hand (instead of new)
    50. Switch out 5 lightbulbs for LED bulbs
    51. Shorten your shower
    52. Visit an arboretum or botanical garden
    53. Carpool to an event/activity
    54. Grow your own herbs
    55. Reuse glass jars
    56. Eat ice cream from a cone (no spoon or bowl to throw away)
    57. Sign a petition online for climate change
    58. Donate to an environmental cause
    59. Write to your congressman about protecting the Earth
    60. Go geocaching at a local park
    61. Practice yoga outside with nature poses
    62. Display your nature finds in your home
    63. Use no single-purpose plastics all day
    64. Volunteer
    65. Visit a refill station for shampoo, soaps, etc.

    Photo Credit: @tiny.adventures.often

    Getting kids involved in protecting the planet

    We know there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to climate awareness, waste reduction, and recycling, amongst other environmental issues. Sustainability is a lifelong journey and one that we need to get our kids involved in. Sometimes the best way to start is, to begin with really small, manageable goals. One thing at a time. Take your time and continue your journey by making the next best choice.

    While Earth Day is an important event that reminds us of our responsibility to protect the planet and preserve its natural resources for future generations, it’s not the ONLY time to take care of the Earth. By raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices daily, we can all play a role in creating a healthier, more sustainable world.

    Let us take action today and every day to make a positive impact on our planet; it starts now, with us and with our children!

    Additional resources

    If you’d like some additional resources for learning about sustainability with kids and help with making small (but very important and impactful) eco-friendly changes in your house and life, check out the following:

    What are your favorite sustainability activities to do with kids?

    About the author

    Lea is a mom of two adventurous kids and wife to her surfer husband Brandon. She is an Army veteran, Registered Nurse, photographer, and small business owner. Lea has lived in Hawaii, New Mexico, and now resides in Florida, where she and her family are enjoying endless ocean adventures. She has traveled to Costa Rica, South Korea, and many states across the US. Lea and her family love to surf, fish, hike, skate, and travel to new places. She is passionate about teaching her kids about nature and protecting our planet.

    You can find Lea online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @oceanmamalea
    Website: Wild Stoke Fam
    RWMC posts: Lea Reynolds

  • BOOKS, FALL, GOOD FOR NATURE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    World Kindness Day: 20+ Outdoor Acts of Kindness for Kids & Ways to Be Kind to Nature

    World Kindness Day is November 13 and we can’t think of a more deserving recipient of our kindness than our planet. Nature is all around us and benefits us in more ways than we can imagine. Our planet needs our help, protection and kindness. This weekend, we hope to inspire you to get outside with your kids and perform some of these outdoor acts of kindness and discover new ways to be kind to nature. 

    20+ Outdoor Acts of Kindness for Kids & Ways to Be Kind to Nature

    Celebrating World Kindness Day outside

    World Kindness Day is right around the corner and what better way to inspire kindness than to take a moment and be kind to our planet. Each year on November 13th, people all over the world come together and give kindness to each other, themselves, and the world.

    World Kindness Day was designed to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness for good. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition which bridges the divides of race, religion, politics, gender, and location. 

    This shared movement reminds us all that compassion really does bind us together on this planet. This year, we encourage you to reach out with acts of kindness to your families, neighborhoods, communities, and to our shared planet.

    Photo credit: @kidsdelmundo

     

    20+ kid-friendly ways to be kind to nature

    Of course, we want you to be kind to everyone, but since we’re all about getting kids outside and into nature, today we’re going to share some ways that you and your kids can be kind to nature and our planet. If you are in need of a little inspiration and some ideas for ways you can be kind to nature, we’re sharing over 20 ideas to get you and your kids started. And the best part…you can do a lot of these acts of kindness outside! 

    1. Pick up trash

    This is probably one of the easiest ways to get your kids involved in giving back to your community and nature. As you walk through your neighborhood and local parks, pick up the trash you see. Make a point to go out on a hike or walk with the sole intention of cleaning up. Kids love being helpful and it really is so beneficial to the maintenance of the natural areas we all love and enjoy. Plus, you’re setting an example of a lifelong love of their planet and instilling a personal responsibility to take care of nature.

    2. Practice Leave No Trace principles

    While out in nature, teach your kids Leave No Trace principles and practice them together. Unless you have specific permission to do otherwise, stay on the trail, leave nature treasures where you found them, don’t build rock cairns, don’t litter, and respect wildlife. Always leave a place better than you found it. Make sure that you also explain why you should (or should not) do things when you’re with your kids so they understand the implications of your actions and the reasoning behind them. Not sure where to start? Learn more about outdoor etiquette and manners for kids with this post.

    3. Join a community cleanup

    Bring your kids along and join in on a local community trash cleanup. These are almost always kid-friendly and event coordinators will be happy to find a child-safe area for you to help in the cleanup efforts. Kids love to be involved in adult projects and they are sure to be rewarded for their volunteer efforts with smiles and kind words by other adult volunteers. If you don’t have a community clean-up project in place, organize your own! Gather some friends and go out together to make a difference. 

    4. Plant a tree

    Give back directly, by planting a native tree or shrub in your yard. Fall is a great time to plant trees. Visit a local nursery to get the best advice on which tree to plant and how to care for it. Let your kids be part of the process from beginning to end. Not only will kids love digging the hole and helping care for the tree, but they get to watch their tree grow for years. 

    Photo credit: @dimples.and.the.blonde

    5. Plant a wildflower garden

    The bees, butterflies, and other pollinators love native flowers. Planting (or planning if it is the wrong time of year) which flowers are beneficial to your local environment is one wonderful way to spread a little kindness to nature. Here’s a great post on planting a pollinator garden with lots of native plants and flowers.

    Or, if you’re looking for a fun way to explore native wildflowers with your kids or make a fun homemade gift, you can create seed bombs with your kids (in paper or ball form): DIY Eco-friendly Plantable Seed Paper and How to Make DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids.

    Photo credit: @c_l_allofus

    6. Feed the birds

    Winter can be rough on wildlife, especially birds. Spread some kindness by feeding the birds this fall and winter. It’s simple and even provides hours of entertainment. Make your own bird feeders and then watch the birds together. Gather some ideas on making bird feeders for your backyard birds with these two posts: Eco-friendly Bird Feeders to Make with Kids and Easy Bird Feeders to Make with Kids.

    7. Compost

    Anytime is a great time to dive into the world of composting and recycling your food waste scraps. Your kids will learn all about food waste, get to see how food breaks down, and less food waste ends up in the landfill. If you have space, you can create a composting station directly on the ground. If you don’t (or if you live in a city or neighborhood), this composting tumbler is a great option. When you start your compost project, make sure to include a few bins for little hands so the kids can help out, too! Mother Nature and your local landfill will gladly accept that kindness. 

    Outdoor Acts of Kindness for Kids & Ways to Be Kind to Nature
    Photo credit: @robbs_rule

    8. Start a wormery

    Kids love worms! And so does the earth. If your kids are super into worms, we have a great project that will be fun and beneficial. Creating a wormery with kids is the perfect way to learn about food scraps and food waste with kids. Your kids will learn a ton, the worms will be well-fed, and keeping food waste out of trash helps our planet. It’s a win-win kindness activity for all.

    9. Join a seed swap

    If you garden every year, then you know that you never (or rarely) use all the seeds you buy! Or maybe you have varieties of plants that are wonderful and you save the seeds each year. Instead of tossing the extra seeds in the trash, donate your extra seeds to your local seed swap. Seed swaps are very educational and are a great way to teach kids the difference between plant hybrids and heirlooms. Heirloom seeds are often handed down through families and might hail from other parts of the world. Take your kids with you to the swap and let them help you find the perfect seeds to plant in your garden. 

    World Kindness Day for Kids - outdoor edition
    Photo credit: @kirsten_alice_photography

    10. Join or start a community garden

    Interested in gardening and don’t have the space or have no idea where to begin? Join a community garden! If one doesn’t exist, you could even start one. This is a great way to volunteer with your kids, learn about growing your own food, and even eat locally grown food.

    11. Reduce your use of single-use plastics

    Teach your children all about how single-use plastics end up in giant piles of trash and how cutting back (or eliminating) these types of plastics is beneficial to nature. Not only will your family be helping the Earth right now, but you are helping to teach the next generation a better way to care for our planet. Examples of single-use plastics are straws and plastic utensils, water bottles, baggies, single-use coffee pods, takeout containers, coffee cup lids, etc.

    Learn more about how to dive into the topic of sustainability with your kids with this post: Garbage Collecting, Recycling, and Sustainability for Kids.

    celebrate world kindness day in nature outside
    Photo credit: @okoshifarm

    12. Volunteer with your kids

    There are so many ways to be kind to nature and volunteering with your kids is one of the best. Your community likely has environmental groups, animal rescues, wildlife conservation groups, and other nature-focused organizations you can spend your time helping. If your kids are not enough to tag along, set an example by volunteering yourself and sharing your experiences with your kids. Learn more on how to volunteer with kids here.

    13. Save water

    The little efforts we put into our everyday activities really do add up. Teach your kids all the little ways they can reduce the amount of water they use each day. Water is a precious resource on our planet and learning how to conserve it is a kindness our Earth and everyone on it will appreciate. Some quick ideas for conserving water: turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take shorter showers, wash the dishes at least once a week by hand instead of using the dishwasher, and don’t water your lawn during the summer (or better yet replace your lawn with native plants or a wonderful garden).

    14. Reduce electricity usage

    As with water, reducing electricity usage is beneficial to our planet and kids can learn a lot of ways to do it. Easy ways include turning off the light when you leave a room, spending an hour each evening together in one room (or outside) with all the other lights and devices off, installing energy-efficient light bulbs, not standing with the refrigerator door open (keep warm air out), hang drying laundry, unplugging unused devices, and using natural light when possible.

    Shop local and small - ways for kids to care for the planet
    Photo credit: @sage.and.summit

    15. Shop at a farmer’s markets and u-pick farms

    Shopping local and small is a wonderful way to spread kindness in your community and help out our planet too. When you buy food and other goodies from farmer’s markets or local farms, you are reducing the carbon footprint of the food you eat. Local food travels significantly less far from the farm to your plate. Plus, children get to interact with local farmers and food vendors, which spreads smiles and good cheer. Learn more about exploring farmer’s markets with kids here.

    16. Raise and donate money to the local environmental group

    Spending time raising money for a good cause is such a great way to spend time with your kids. Maybe you bake cookies and make hot chocolate together and sell them on your street corner. Rake leaves and donate the money. Host a yard sale. Maybe have your children come up with a goal and use social media to help them reach it. There are so many options out there and plenty of time to make it happen. After all, teaching and learning kindness through giving is a wonderful life lesson.

    Outdoor Acts of Kindness for Kids
    Photo credit: @jannaprange

     

    17. Write a letter to elected officials

    Get your children involved in politics and help them write letters to elected officials sharing their thoughts on ways to help our environment. Everyone likes to get mail, especially from kids, right?

    18. Carpool

    This time of year is incredibly busy with sports and school. Offer to carpool with another family to reduce car emissions. Not only will you be helping another family, but you are being kind to Mother Nature too.

    Ride Your Bike - ways for kids to be kind to nature
    Photo credit: @stacey.raising.boys

    19. Ride your bikes

    If you live close enough to school or community businesses and events, consider riding your bikes instead of taking the car. Talk to your kids about why you are opting for the bike lane and set an example by using your bike whenever you can. Biking or walking just one mile a day for a year could save 330 pounds of carbon dioxide—that’s the same as planting four trees and letting them grow for 10 years! This also helps kids be active, connect with their neighborhood and gain a sense of direction.

    20. Use public transportation

    Not all of us have this option, but you absolutely should give it a go if you can. Kids love riding buses, trams, subways, other public transportation options. This is especially true for little kids who require car seats in the car but get some freedom when taking public transit. Not only are you reducing emissions (for which nature thanks you), but you get to spend time with your family and give your kids an eco-friendly adventure.

    21. Shop second-hand shops

    There is so much clothing, toys, and other products sitting in trash dumps all over the world. Our consumer culture creates a ton of waste. Did you know that so many things you want and need can be bought second-hand? Instead of buying a bunch of new gifts for the holidays this year, buy some gently used items instead and encourage your children to do the same. Or when your children need new clothing or your family wants a new board game, puzzle, or book, go to a thrift store or used book store and see what you find. You are helping to reduce waste by reusing items and that is a kindness nature needs.

    20+ Outdoor Acts of Kindness for Kids & Ways to Be Kind to Nature
    Photo credit: @jhennyloouuu

    22. Use libraries and Little Free Libraries

    Sharing is caring and what better way to spread kindness than through sharing books? Instead of buying new books, utilize libraries to find new-to-you books. Your local library is sure to carry the majority of books you could ever want to read and almost all of them have ways to request books they do not yet carry. Plus, Little Free Libraries are all over the place and are such a fun way to share books you are done with and grab new books too.

    23. Help your kids organize a clothing and toy swap

    So many of the toys we buy our kids and the clothing we wear are in great shape when we are done with them. This is especially true of children’s clothing because kids outgrow them so quickly. Your kids will love to spread kindness by helping you organize a clothing or toy swap between their friends and families. Maybe a school, your place of employment, or a local community organization would like to host or you have space in your garage or yard. It can be between friends or a whole community event. Get the kids involved with sorting and set up and then let them find some new-to-them items for all their hard work.

    24. Organize a craft supply exchange

    Similar to a clothing and toy swap, a craft supply exchange is a great way to be kind to nature and lets you re-distribute craft supplies you are no longer using. Your kids will love to help organize, sort, and find new craft supplies. Not only are these sorts of exchanges spreading kindness within your community, but Mother Nature will be happy the items were utilized instead of tossed in the trash.

    Photo credit: @thespencersadventures

    25. Set up a scrap paper station

    So much paper gets thrown away that could still be put to good use. Be kind to nature by getting more use out of scrap paper. Instead of throwing out (or even recycling) perfectly good paper that’s only been used on one side, set up a scrap paper station in your home. Add all the worksheets and papers that come home with your kids from school. Add printed paper that you no longer need. If the paper has a blank side, you can still use it for lists, notes, drawing, coloring, and jotting down messages. It’ll give that paper a little extra life before going into the recycle bin.

    26. Know what’s recyclable (and what’s not)

    Knowing what can and cannot be recycled in your area is one of the smartest things you can do to ensure that you are diverting as much of your waste from landfills as possible, while avoiding recycling contamination through proper separation. Here are the different categories of waste. Some of these categories can be recycled and others cannot. (1) Organic waste: food waste, grass, leaves, eggshells, coffee grinds, tea bags. (2) Glass: white and colored glass. (3) Plastic/metal: plastic bottles, plastic packages, jars, cans. (4) Paper: cardboard, paper bags, paper cups, paper. (5) Toxic waste: printer ink, lightbulb, batteries, electronic waste. (6) Residue: whatever doesn’t fit the others, such as used diapers, animal waste. 

    27. Spend time outside

    Yup, even just spending time outside as a family in all the green spaces is being kind to nature. The more time you spend outside learning about nature and being a part of it, the more you’ll learn to respect and appreciate it. Just make sure to leave the areas you enjoy better than you found it and Mother Nature will be happy.

    Kindness and nature books for kids

    If you want to help inspire your children to find ways to give back and be kind to nature on their own, reading them books about kindness and the ways our planet needs help is sure to set them on the right track. Here are just a few of the many wonderful books available to get you started.

    How do you plan to be kind to nature with your kids?

  • GOOD FOR NATURE, HOLIDAYS, INFORMATION, PRINTABLES

    Earth Day Challenge

    Do you feel like you should be doing more to help the environment, but don’t know where to start? Are you overwhelmed by all the “eco-friendly” products out there and how expensive they can be? Do you want someone to help guide you through easy ways to take small steps towards reducing your carbon footprint? We’ve got the answer for you! Introducing our very first ever EARTH DAY CHALLENGE! 

    Earth Day Mini Challenge - Run Wild My Child

    Introducing our Earth Day mini-challenge

    The Run Wild My Child Earth Day Challenge is an 8-day challenge designed to help busy parents become more knowledgeable about eco-friendly swaps, products, and actions, without the guilt or overwhelm.

    No matter where you are in your journey to reducing your carbon footprint (already making changes or just getting started), we’re here to help offer tips, action items, and products you’ll love. At the end of the challenge you should have everything you need to start making small, but powerful, changes in your life and around your home.

    Who this challenge is for…

    This is the perfect challenge for busy parents that love and appreciate the outdoors. You know the importance of reducing your carbon footprint and want to make sure your children (and their children) will have a beautiful healthy planet to explore.  You already make a conscious effort to make some eco-friendly decisions, but would like to know how you can do more, without getting shamed, overwhelmed, or pressured into spending a lot of money. 

    EARTH DAY CHALLENGE

    How this challenge will help you

    This challenge will give you lots of easy-to-implement eco-friendly ideas for different rooms in your house. You don’t have to do all of them – you get to pick and choose what works best for your family, your budget, and your lifestyle. 

    The challenge will give you an online support group with others going through the challenge together and taking action. You can meet friends, ask questions, help others and hold each other accountable.

    By the end of the challenge, we know you’ll be educated and equipped to start making small (but impactful) changes in your home and life to help save the planet. And we’ll help you get your kids involved, too! Together, we can make a difference! 

    What’s included in the challenge

    Our Earth Day Challenge includes so many amazing products and bonuses. Here’s what you can expect to get:

    • 30+ page downloadable PDF & workbook
    • Access to a private pop-up Facebook group for support, interaction, and accountability
    • Daily challenges and eco-friendly action items
    • Challenge hashtag and features on @runwild.mychild Instagram page
    • List of 30+ eco-friendly activities to do with kids
    • Printable Earth Day Bingo cards
    • DIY “green” recipes for household cleaning products
    • And so much more!

    [maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://runwildmychild.com/product/earth-day-mini-challenge/” text=”ALL FOR ONLY $22″ ]

    (we know, it’s crazy cheap)

    Daily challenge themes and action items

    Each day of the challenge has a theme and a worksheet where you can take notes and write down the action items you’d like to take. We not only take you through your home room by room to find ways to be more ec0-conscious, but we’ll help with some mindset changes and encouragement so you don’t get overwhelmed.  

    • Day 1: Create an Eco-Friendly Bathroom
    • Day 2: Create an Eco-Friendly Kitchen
    • Day 3: Create an Eco-Friendly Bedroom
    • Day 4: Eco-Friendly Outdoor Spaces
    • Day 5: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
    • Day 6: Eco-Friendly Kids & Baby
    • Day 7: Shopping Local, Little, and Less
    • Day 8: Celebrate Earth Day

    Meet the hosts

    Chelsea Furlong

    Chelsea is a photographer, mother of two busy boys, member of the RWMC Creative Team, and a sunshine and fresh air addict. Her family lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and spends as much time outdoors as they possibly can! Most of their outdoor adventures involve exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. They love biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find them enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. They’re doing their best to reduce their carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when they arrived.

    Sara McCarty

    Sara is the Founder of Run Wild My Child, a resource website, online community, and podcast all about getting kids off screens and outside, one adventure at a time. She’s a mom of 3, a wife, and a corporate securities lawyer. She grew up in the country, but now lives in St. Louis and is determined to raise her city kids to be as wild and feral as possible. You can usually find her family exploring a creek, fly fishing, hiking, duck hunting, camping, canoeing, biking, or geocaching. She’s passionate about reading, photography, plants, coffee, cooking, and key lime pie.

    Challenge details

    The Run Wild My Child Earth Day Challenge starts Thursday, April 15, 2021, and ends on Earth Day, April 22. We’ll send out materials the day before and get the ball rolling! We’re super excited about this and can’t wait to see you there! 

    [maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://runwildmychild.com/product/earth-day-mini-challenge/” text=”JOIN THE CHALLENGE” ]

     

    Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

  • BEACH, BIKE, CRAFTS, GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, HOLIDAYS, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, WATER

    15+ Activities to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids

    Earth Day is next week and the world needs you and your actions! There are so many things parents and kids can do to help protect, preserve and restore our planet – from cleaning up, to recycling, composting, planting a garden or just enjoying the beauty of nature! Today, we have Chelsea Furlong (professional photographer and eco-conscious mom of 2) here with 15+ eco-friendly activities kids and families can do together to celebrate Earth Day. And bonus that all these activities can be done at or around the home, while socially distancing.

    kid friendly Earth Day activities


    15+ Earth Day Activities With Kids

    Earth Day 2020

    April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. On that historical day, 20 million Americans filled the streets with protests to stop the destruction of our precious planet. This essentially started what became the planet’s largest civic event and an environmental movement. Since then, Earth Day has been celebrated annually worldwide on the 22nd day of April.

    While this year is a bit of an anomaly and we’ll have to celebrate at (or close to) home and away from others (no marches or protests this year), there’s no reason why this can’t be the best Earth Day celebration ever! Use this as a way to avoid shopping/purchasing anything new (especially plastics) and use what you’ve already got on hand in new ways. Get creative and make the most out of the things you already own or can find in nature close to home.

    Celebrating Earth Day with kids

    Getting kids involved in taking care of the planet when they’re young encourages them to continue the tradition as they get older. It’s a parent’s job to teach kids to be good stewards of the earth encourages them to love and respect their planet and nature. There are so many amazing ways you can celebrate this day with your kids and family while being conscious of your carbon footprint. Here are some of my favorites!

    1. Nature scavenger hunt

    Make a list of things found in nature around your home, neighborhood or a local park. Then go out for a walk or hike with the family and see how many items you can find. In order to save paper, you could make the list on your phone or a reusable dry erase board or reusable writing board. We love our Boogie Board writing tablets for things like this! 

    Earth Day activities with kids

    2. Neighborhood clean up

    Grab some gloves and garbage bags and beautify your neighborhood by removing all the trash humans have tossed around. My kids actually love doing this because they almost always find treasures they want to clean up and keep. Our oldest son keeps a whole lot of other people’s discarded items to use in creating art and sculptures, and we don’t mind one bit! We get to enjoy his creative mind while giving the trash a second life before it’s tossed into a landfill for decades, centuries, or possibly forever.

    Earth Day clean up with kids

    3. Family bike ride

    Going on a family bike ride is a great way to get the family outside enjoying what Mother Earth has to offer while being active and adventurous! Head to your favorite bike trail or try a new one. You can enjoy your town or city without polluting the air and you’ll feel so great afterward!

    4. Get out on the water

    Spend the day observing nature from the water. Instead of using something motorized, try a kayak, rowboat, stand-up paddleboard, or other pollution-free water vehicle.

    Earth Day activities with kids

    5. Make a bird feeder

    There are TONS of ways to DIY a bird feeder using recycled materials. We made bird feeders using recycled toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, and even pine cones! We have a great post on making ec0-friendly bird feeders with kids using materials you already have at home! No need to leave the house!

    Earth Day activities for kids

    6. Practice Earth Day yoga

    My kids love doing yoga! Celebrate Earth Day with kids by doing a special outdoor kid-friendly yoga session. Stand barefoot in the grass so you can feel the earth under your feet and are grounded. Breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine and wind on your skin. You can pick some earth and animal-related poses to do. Tree, turtle, butterfly, lotus, and frog are some of my children’s’ favorite yoga poses.

    7. Make seed bombs or seed paper

    Another great activity to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make seed bombs (with clay) or seed paper using recycled paper scraps you have lying around the house or in your recycling bin! You can bomb an area in your yard or neighborhood and see how they grow over the spring. Or give them out as gifts to friends or leave them on a neighbor’s doorstep as an Earth Day present. Feel free to use my seed paper valentine instructions as a guide, with a few swaps. Change the color (to blue/green) and shape (to a circle like the Earth) to match the Earth Day theme.

    8. Start a garden

    Kids love playing in dirt! Have them help you make a family garden. You can plant a flower garden or edible garden, and work together to take care of the plants. If you don’t have a lot of space or live in a city, you can always do a potted garden or patio garden! We don’t have a lot of space to plant edibles where we live, but we still try to grow some herbs and vegetables every year using pots and containers. Here are some recommendations for easy vegetables to grow with kids and a great post on how to make gardening enjoyable for kids.

    Eco Tip: Be sure to buy the pots/containers pre-loved at a thrift store or from someone else!

    patio garden gardening with kids

    9. Plant a tree

    There’s no better time than Earth Day to plant a tree! Spring is a great time to plant and Earth Day is a great reason. Pick a special spot to plant a family tree that you all can visit for years to come! If you plant a fruit tree, you’ll also have the added benefit of beautiful blossoms and fruit you can enjoy once your tree is mature.

    10. Make earth art

    Doing an art project is always a fun way to celebrate and document any holiday. Making art from natural materials is so much fun to create. Plus, there’s a fun added benefit in that other people will find joy when they come across your artwork! You can use any kind of materials you find in nature to create a masterpiece on the ground. We like to use shells, sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, petals, nuts and sand.

    celebrating Earth Day with kids

    11. Start composting

    Starting a compost is something that has been on my list to do for years now and I think Earth Day is when we’ll start! My oldest son has been bringing me food scraps daily, asking to put it in a compost instead of the garbage. I promised him we would do some research and begin one soon. We don’t live in a rural area and don’t have much of a backyard space so our compost will need to be small. However, there are plenty of great options for composting in small spaces and in the city! A friend uses this composting tumbler in their backyard and adds the finished compost to their flower beds. You could research composting with your kids and start this year, too! And when you start your compost project, make sure to include a few bins for little hands so the kids can help out, too!

    12. Have a picnic

    A great way to get outside and enjoy nature is by having a picnic. You can have a picnic inside or outside! But be sure to keep it earth friendly by:

    • packing your picnic in reusable containers,
    • bringing reusable utensils/straws/water bottles, and
    • bringing cloth napkins/hand towels.

    Bonus: Try to reduce your picnic carbon footprint by preparing a vegan meal!

    13. Take a hike

    One of our favorite outdoor activities is hiking. Hiking always inspires us to take care of our beautiful planet by reminding us just how impressive nature can be! This year, if you can safely get out to a place away from others, take a fun Earth Day celebratory hike. Bring along a bag to pick up any trash/litter you see and some binoculars to do some birding while you’re out!

    ways to celebrate Earth Day with kids

    14. Make nature crowns

    Nature crowns are a really fun and easy craft you can make and wear in celebration of Earth Day! No need to buy anything, just use whatever you can find in nature. You can make nature crowns out of just about anything – flowers, grasses, clover, vines, sticks, dandelions or wildflowers! Be creative and have fun with it!

    15. Make nature paint brushes 

    Head out on a nature walk and collect different materials to use as paintbrushes! Pick up things like sticks, leaves, long blades of grass, flowers, etc. Take them home and dip them in paint to make a family piece of artwork to hang up forever. It’s a great way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. You’ll be able to look at the art you made and remember the time you spent with your children for years to come.

    16. Earth Day puppet show 

    Another fun way to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make puppets with materials from your recycling bin. Or, you could make sock puppets from all those single socks you have lying around! You can have your children do some research online or read some books about ways to protect our planet. Then they can share what they’ve learned by putting on a puppet show! This is also an amazing activity to share with family and friends on FaceTime or other video chatting app during quarantine. You don’t have to leave your house and you can bring some joy to others in isolation from a safe distance!

    17. Make sculptures, art, or robots using items in your recycling bin

    My kids love making art from trash! It gives those items one more life before they get tossed into the recycling bin or trash can. Use materials you would normally throw away or recycle and repurpose them into art, a sculpture or a robot (or a monster or an alien or anything!). Let them paint and decorate their creation. Display it proudly!

    18. Build a fort

    Another great way to celebrate Earth Day is to head out into the woods with your family and make a fort together! Use materials found on the ground to design a shelter. (Do NOT take down anything alive! I’m sure you’ll have plenty of options that are no longer alive and that have fallen to the ground without the help of humans!) You could have a picnic inside your fort, read some books, or just sit in the quiet and observe Earth’s gifts surrounding you.

    Earth Day activities with kids

    How will you celebrate Earth Day with your family?

    About the author

    Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

    You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
    Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
    Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
    RWMC posts: Chelsea Furlong

     

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FAVORITE GEAR, GOOD FOR NATURE, PHOTOGRAPHY

    Making a Difference with Vivobarefoot Kids

    We humans have been pretty terrible to the planet we live on and the animals that inhabit it. Just since 1970, human activity has destroyed 60% of all the world’s animals. There are now over 16,000 endangered species threatened with extinction. Scientists estimate that 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird, and mammal become extinct EVERY 24 HOURS. Insect populations are declining at a rate that could be “catastrophic” for our ecosystems within two generations. Scientists are describing what’s happening to animal life on earth as “biological annihilation.” Something has to change. And that change starts right here, with us! We are making a difference, one kid at a time!

    making a difference - ways kids can help take care of our planet

    Here come the wild ones

    Last month we had the honor of teaming up with one of our all-time favorite outdoor kid’s shoe brands – Vivobarefoot Kids – to host a hashtag campaign to raise awareness for our planet and its animals. VivoKids recently launched a new line of eco-friendly kids shoes inspired by endangered species. These “Wild” shoes have minimal impact on the environment and are made with cleaner, greener materials. For example, the Ultra Blooms are made from algae blooms and each pair returns 25 liters of clean water and reduces 6 balloons worth of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

    A portion of the profits from the sale of these shoes go directly to The Aspinall Foundation, a British charity that works to promote wildlife conservation through education, captive breeding programmes and, crucially, by reintroducing endangered species into the wild wherever possible. Over the last few years, the Aspinall Foundation has successfully reintroduced a range of animals (including 8 black rhino, 49 Javan Langurs, 9 Javans gibbons, 11 European bison and over 60 western lowland gorillas) back into the wild in their natural habitat.

    #wildkids4wildlife campaign for endangered species

    #wildkids4wildlife

    In connection with this amazing collaboration, we became inspired to encourage kids (and their parents!) to learn more about the animals in whose footprints they are walking and to take action to help our planet. We believe the more kids know about the environment and wildlife, the more ingrained it will be in them to care for it and act accordingly as they grow.

    During the month of March, we ran a hashtag campaign on Instagram with VivoKids and our favorite hub @wildandbravelittles. We encouraged kids (and parents) to take action with a good deed for the earth and tag us! Our #wildkids4wildlife campaign was born and it was absolutely amazing! Throughout the month we featured these tagged images and were blown away with the incredible response and feedback we received.

    vivokids eco-friendly shoes for kids

    Be the change you want to see

    We saw kids doing all kinds of good deeds, from picking up litter to planting a tree. From gardening and composting, to recycling and attending rallies on climate change. Some kids made donations to their local wildlife rehabilitation centers, stopped their use of single-serve plastics and wrote letters to their congressional reps about changes that could be made to protect our earth. We saw kids reading books about endangered animals, visiting their local zoo and learning about them and making a commitment to help. It was inspiring! We hope this will be the starting point for a lifetime of conversations, actions and changes so that we can all be kinder to our planet.

    With VivoKids’ help, we chose three “winners” from the tagged images. Each of these winners received shoes for their kids from Vivobarefoot. Their images were not only inspiring but told a beautiful story about the compassion and power of kids. We asked the winners a few questions about their images and the story behind them. Their answers are below.

    no one is too small to make a difference@amys.place

    NSW, Australia, on the Coffs Coast
    4 children; Lara (10), Dylan (7), Freya (5) and Ciara (3)

    The story behind the image

    On 15 March 2019, I accompanied my eldest daughter to a local student strike against climate change, which was a globally organized event inspired by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish student who began striking each Friday in August 2018. Greta has been a source of inspiration for my daughter, who is an aspiring biologist and who cares deeply for our planet. On 15 March, Lara woke early and set to work on her sign. Her message was clear, and indeed helped set the theme for the day, that no one is too small to make a difference.

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    My husband is an environmental scientist and I have a legal background. Both he and I have raised our children with an awareness that our planet cannot be exploited and taken for granted as it has in the past. On a household level, we make efforts to reduce our waste and produce our own food when possible. We use solar energy at home and we collect rubbish from waterways, parks, bushlands, and beaches. Our children all know and recite the phrase “take three for the sea,” (though we often end up with large collections of plastic after a beach trip). We continue to educate our children to respect our planet and to advocate for it. We encourage them to enjoy it, to learn from it, but to never to take it for granted. They will, after all, be the next generation of leaders and decision-makers. Moving forward, I hope that they will learn from our mistakes, but I also hope that we can show them that we learned from them too. We must not wait for the next generation to fix what we broke, because this is impossible. We have to make the change now.

    how to teach your kids to take care of the earth

    @soulshinephotographer

    Southeastern Wisconsin
    2 children – Lorenzo (4.5) & Halona (3)

    The story behind the image

    This photo was taken while we were planting our first garden at our new house. We really wanted to have the kids be hands-on (literally!) with the gardening process, which they love. This picture was taken on our transplant day when we moved our plants outside. We started all our vegetables from seeds, so when the time was right, most had to be transplanted outdoors into the garden. The kids and I spent the day transplanting our little seedlings with love, care, and tenderness. Yes, it took most of the day as we have well over 200 plants growing!

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    We are a homesteading family and have been teaching the kids all about the natural world and how to help protect it since they were babies. Taking care of our environment is a big part of our lives. Getting the kids involved in gardening has really helped them become aware of the earth and all it has to offer when treated right and what happens when you don’t. I love talking to the kids about the process and teaching them when to water and feed plants, how the soil absorbs the nutrients and what helps the plants grow strong. Then we introduce other ideas, such as what might happen when other (harmful) things are absorbed by the soil? I like to introduce these types of open-ended questions and let the reasoning happen naturally.

    We are also a big hiking family and on our hikes, we observe the natural world. On these hikes we be sure to bring our reusable bags and pick up any trash we see on the way. We have been teaching our children the importance of taking care of our earth by also doing the things listed below. Things you and your family can do too to help protect our earth!

    What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

    Some everyday activities we have done/do to make a difference to our planet:
    • turn the lights off when you are not using them;
    • unplug things not in use;
    • use cardboard for burning to reduce the amount being put into landfills;
    • use reusable bags instead of harmful plastic bags;
    • recycle;
    • hang clothes on the line to air dry;
    • use cloth diapers;
    • potty train as soon as possible to eliminate diapers and extra laundry;
    • pick up trash even if it’s not yours;
    • be a part of the community and participate in clean ups;
    • plant tree and bee-friendly flowers;
    • grow our own food to alleviate food transportation waste; and
    • eat less processed foods.

    simple things you can do to help the environment with kids

    @erinbethray

    South Florida
    2 boys, ages 7 and 8

    The story behind the image

    My images show my boys cleaning up the Broward County waterways. We participated in the 2019 waterway cleanup, which is held across our entire county, from the beaches all the way to the Everglades, and everywhere in between! Wherever there’s a waterway, river, or canal, we’re trying to clean it up.  It’s our county’s largest and longest running environmental event! 

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    We are constantly learning and trying. Every day is a learning experience on how we can help mother earth and protect our planet. I believe if you do good, your kids are always watching and, in turn, they’ll do good! I try to lead by example. We also love to learn about animals. I believe that if you teach children that our earth is the home for these animals, it can help them want to do better for those creatures and our planet. Give them a love of the world and nature and they’ll WANT to help. 

    What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

    I think one of the easiest things people can to do to make a difference for our planet is to use metal straws. Also, if you’re going out into nature (to the beach, a park, trail, etc.), bring a bag and pick up as much garbage as you can. It’s simple and effective! Also, we should all recycle as much as we can! 

    how kids can help make a difference in the environment

    The earth is not ours to inherit – it’s on loan from our children and grandchildren. If we want there to be anything left we have to act now. All of us.

    * This hashtag campaign and giveaway is sponsored by and in collaboration with Vivobarefoot Kids. 

  • CRAFTS, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Make DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids

    One of our favorite outdoor crafts is to make DIY wildflower seed bombs. Not only are these DIY seed bombs easy enough for kids to make in under an hour, but they’re good for the birds, bees, and butterflies in your area. They only require a few ingredients and have the added benefit of letting kids get their hands really messy! Make these and let your kids “seedbomb” the neighborhood or give them as homemade eco-friendly gifts to teachers, neighbors, family, and friends. Everyone will love watching the seed bombs grow into a beautiful patch of colorful wildflowers.

    Making DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids

    Guerilla gardening with seed bombs

    Did you know that “seed bombs” originated in New York City in the 1970s? People use to make these tiny “green grenades” of native herb, flower, and vegetable seeds and then “bomb” large vacant lots where it was illegal or impossible to plant. They called it guerilla gardening! It’s definitely caught on and now seed bombs are still the main weapon guerrilla gardeners use to grow flowers in bare spots, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators. Seed bombs enable seeds to be sown in hard-to-reach places and locations where the gardener is unable to adequately prepare the ground for traditional gardening.

    Bomb responsibly

    I’m sure you already know better, but make sure you bomb responsibly. Do not drop seed bombs on private property or in protected parks. Try to stick with spaces that have been neglected or local public areas that could use a bit of rewilding. You may want to check local ordinances before bombing around your town or neighborhood. Also, make sure that the seeds you use are local and native to your area. You wouldn’t want to introduce any new or invasive species of plants or flowers into your local ecosystem with these seedbombs. 

    how to make diy wildflower seed bombs with kids - earth day craftswhat to put in wildflower seed bombs

    Benefits of wildflowers

    Growing a patch of colorful native wildflowers not only adds beauty and charm to your space, but they provide many benefits to the world around us. Wildflowers are native to the area where they grow, meaning they’re conditioned to thrive there.  They require less water and fertilizer, are less prone to disease and are more tolerant to pests. They also provide critical habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination. Wildflowers can also improve soil health, prevent erosion, improve water quality, increase yields and enhance forage conditions for livestock. When choosing seeds to use in your seed bombs, make sure you use wildflowers that are local and native to the area they’ll be planted to avoid introducing invasive species.

    making seed bombs with kidsdiy seed bombs with kids

    Make your own seed bombs with kids

    Wildflower seed bombs are surprisingly easy to make and so fun! They only require a few ingredients and about an hour to make. They are definitely messy though, so be prepared to have a tub of water or a hose somewhere close to rinse your hand. My kids loved this project and the sensory feeling of squishing the clay between their fingers. They also loved gifting their homemade seed bombs to our neighbors and friends. We can’t wait to see patches of wildflowers sprouting up around our area soon!

    earth day project for kidsplanting wildflowers with kids for earth day

    What you need to make seed bombs

    • Air dry clay (we used this clay for the bombs pictured here, but we’ve also tried this one and it works just as well)
    • Potting soil or compost
    • Native/local wildflower seeds
    • Water

    nature craft seed bombshow to make seed bombsmaking wildflower seed bombs with kids

    How to make wildflower seed bombs

    Step 1: Mix the ingredients

    Mix together about 4 parts clay to 1 part potting soil. You don’t have to be exact, but you want more clay than soil so the bombs hold tightly together.

    Add your wildflower seeds to the clay mixture (we also added some sunflower seeds). Be sure to only use seeds that are native to your area and not invasive. Native plants will grow better and support more wildlife than non-native species. Not all of the seeds will sprout, so it’s best to have an assortment of flower species and varieties.

    Step 2: Add water

    Add a little bit of water at a time and squish with your hands until everything is mixed and about the consistency of thick cookie dough. This is definitely a good job for the kids! Make sure not to use too much water or it gets gooey and runny. If you use too much water, add more soil.

    Step 3: Roll into balls

    Once everything is well mixed, roll the clay into balls about the size of a golf ball. Set them on a tray and let them dry completely until hardened. This may take a couple hours or a couple of days, depending on the humidity levels where you live.

    Step 4: Bombs away

    Once dry, package your seed bombs in small envelopes or bags to gift to friends, neighbors, teachers, or family members. They’d make great gifts for Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation, or just because.

    earth day crafts for kids: wildflower seed bombsmaking seed bombs with clay

    A few extra tips for making seed bombs

    We made these seed bombs on a pretty chilly day. This led to our clay being very hard to squish/mold initially and made our fingers very cold! We ended up using warm water in our mix, which helped tremendously. So, if your clay is really hard or cold, try warming your water for the mix.

    If storing your seed bombs to gift or use at a later date, just be sure to keep them in a cool, dry, dark location to prevent them from germinating. 

    If you want to package them use as gifts, I found this cute printable label, which I printed on cardstock and attached with washi tape.

    how to make seed bombs with kidsmaking seed balls with kidshow to make diy seed bombsclay based seed bombs for kids

    When to bomb

    The best time to get out there and start slinging your wildflower bombs in the spring. Check your local weather and try to get them out just ahead of some rain and choose a sunny spot. That will give them the best chance of growing. If there’s no rain coming, maybe add some water. Plant your seed balls anywhere in need of some beauty and color. Hopefully, in a few weeks, you’ll have the beginning of a beautiful patch of your own native wildflowers!

     
    diy nature gifts made by kids

    Not interested in getting dirty?

    If you’re not into getting your hands dirty, or perhaps you can’t get your hands on all of the ingredients you need, there’s another option! Seedbombs can also be purchased. Seedles makes a really cute and colorful option. Or you can purchase a large pack of 50 native wildflower seed bombs. 

    earth day gifts and projects for kids

    Have you ever made seed bombs?