Earth Day: Making It Meaningful for Children of All Ages

-Each day 50 to 100 species of plants and animals become extinct as their habitat disappears and human influences destroy them.

-Americans use 50 million tons of paper annually - consuming more than 850 million trees.

-About 1% of U.S. landfill space if full of disposable diapers, which take 500 years to decompose.

-The human population is expected to be nearly tripled by the year 2100.

Alarming facts such as these may be discouraging. However, the good news is that much of the extensive damage that the human race has already caused to the environment is reversible. Habitats can be restored, topsoil can be replenished, forests can be replanted and rivers can be cleansed. However, it will be up to future generations to carry out the essential changes required to avoid further environmental damage and to take the appropriate steps to begin to undo what has already been done.

Ideally, parents should teach their children to respect and care for the environment by setting a good example in their daily lives. However, if you haven't taken the time to educate your children about the fragile state of the environment, Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to do so. For others, Earth Day can serve as a reminder to renew their commitment to "reducing, reusing and recycling".

Honoring Earth Day should be inexpensive and fun for all involved. Here are a few suggestions for Earth Day activities for the entire family.

-Children of any age can benefit from some quality time outdoors on Earth Day. Go for a hike and revel in the beauty that nature provides.

-Spend a few hours cleaning up your neighborhood with your younger children or a nearby highway with older children and teens. Fill garbage bags with litter and collect cans, bottles and other recyclable materials. As you pick up the litter, explain to your children the importance of keeping the earth clean.

-Save up your recyclable materials prior to the big day. Take a trip to your local recycling center on Earth Day. The monetary reward offered by many recycling centers for aluminum cans and other items will be extra incentive for younger children who are always interested in making a few extra bucks.

-Take a field trip to a nearby beach or park and have a picnic. Bring your own dishes from home rather than using paper or Styrofoam plates and utensils. Depending what you pack, you might be able to get away with eating off of cloth napkins. If you bring store-bought snacks, make sure that they don't utilize a lot of unnecessary packaging materials. You can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and take a few minutes to clean up any litter you find after your family meal.

-Walk to your local library, borrow some relevant books and read them to your children.

-Make an arts and crafts project using recycled materials. Use your creativity and you can come up with all sorts of amazing things. If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, there are many projects available online that will be appropriate for children of all ages.

-Visit earthday.gov/kids for links to a variety of resources for younger children, such as games, puzzles, crafts, songs and coloring pages. However, don't use this as an excuse to spend the day indoors staring at a computer screen.

-Lead the family in practicing an environmentally-conscious lifestyle throughout the entire day. Don't leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth in the morning and avoid turning on the lights during daylight hours or other unnecessary energy usage. If at all possible, walk everywhere you go.

-Visit a zoo, aquarium or science museum where children will learn while having fun. Zoos and other animal parks are a great place to teach children about extinction and endangered species. Their love for animals will make them want to get involved in protecting endangered species and their habitat. A horse farm or other place where children are allowed to interact with the animals can also be a valuable experience.

Whatever you choose to do, enjoy yourselves and remember to set a good example for your children not just on Earth Day, but everyday. Educating future generations is a key component of saving our Earth's natural resources.

Environmental facts taken from:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/facts.htm