Earth Day 2024 is around the corner. On Monday, April 22nd, people around the globe will take action to improve the state of our planet. Organizations will raise awareness, organize large clean-ups, and fundraise to make a difference and improve the health of our planet. We can all agree that taking steps to ensure the planet is healthier is an important endeavor. The health of the Earth directly affects our lives as well as the future of our children. We can also agree that while we care about the planet, we are busy parents whose plates are often full. Since two truths can exist simultaneously: we care about the Earth and are busy parents, we've tried to make it easy for you to make a difference this year.
Earth Day is an excellent opportunity to teach your little ones about the planet's role in our everyday lives and how we can impact taking care of it. School-aged children are likely involved in topics that introduce them to environmental stewardship and how their actions can make a difference in improving the Earth. This Earth Month is an excellent opportunity for kids to connect, use what they are learning in school, and take direct action at home. It is also an incredible opportunity to expand on their learning and raise awareness with those around them.
For the littlest among us, it is never too early to start teaching them earth-friendly concepts, such as recycling, planting gardens, or reducing our water use. Even at their youngest, children are sponges taking in everything around them. The more they see these practices in action, the more it will become ingrained in their thinking and the more likely it is to become a habit of their own as they grow. As parents and caregivers, we have a unique opportunity to shape the thinking of those around us. Our words and actions can make a big difference, and while we can do this every day of the year, Earth Day is a perfect place to focus on making a large difference!
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Practices
Incorporating eco-friendly practices into your daily routine have a multitude of benefits for not only the planet, but yourself and your family as well. When you invest in making earth-friendly choices, you are helping protect the environment, improve your health and well-being, setting a good example for those around you, and, likely, saving money.
- Protecting the Environment: The Earth sustains a diverse array of species, each playing a crucial role in ecosystems. Protecting the environment helps preserve biodiversity, making sure that the ecosystems stay stable and resilient.
- Health and Well-being: A clean environment directly impacts the health and well-being of the humans that live here. Cleaner air and water are essential for our bodies.
- Setting a good example (ripple effect): Groups of people coming together to in a positive way set an example for others can shape social norms and attitudes towards sustainability.
- Saving Money: Adopting sustainable practices such as energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and recycling can lead to cost savings for individuals, businesses, and governments by reducing resource consumption and waste disposal expenses.
Ways to Make a Big Impact!
Making a difference this Earth Day can be done without considerable effort. Little actions can make a significant difference when it comes to being eco-friendly. The collective action of lots of do-gooders, like yourselves, can make a substantial impact on the overall health of the planet.
We know you're busy so we've curated some last-minute ways that you can make a big impact to help our planet this Earth Day.
1. Spring Clean with a Purpose
You're likely already planning on sprucing up around the house, but this time, you can do so with the goal of not just trashing old items but considering ways to reuse and recycle them. When you are finished with household items, you can make plans to pass them on to neighbors or community members who may be able to get extended use out of them. Remember the adage: one person's trash is another person's treasure. Passing along items you are finished with will ensure fewer items end up unnecessarily in the landfill.
- Make Signs Using Recycled Cardboard
You and your family can make signs, using recyclable materials, to post around your community to raise awareness about being Earth-Friendly. Kids love to engage in this type of activity and they can become very passionate about spreading awareness. Some ideas for these signs can include reminders about recycling, energy conservation, planting trees, and joining clean ups.
- Clean Up
Clean-ups don't need to be a giant undertaking. You can choose to join an existing clean-up, like the ones that are part of The Great Global Clean Up organized through Make It Cute in partnership with EARTHDAY.ORG, or simply make a point to pick up trash along your normal activities such as a neighborhood walk, hike, or trip to the grocery store. If you see something that doesn't belong in nature (garbage), pick it up and dispose of it properly. If you do this, you've taken action to protect the environment. Good job!
Bonus Idea: For extra fun, you can create a simple scavenger hunt challenge for your family, for example, "pick up 3 items that don't belong in nature".
- Support Eco-Friendly Businesses
Make a point to support businesses in your area that engage in earth-friendly practices. If you're going to be shopping already, this is an easy way to make an impact without considerable effort. Your local Chamber Of Commerce website is a great resource to learn more about which businesses in your area focus on sustainable practices.
- Craft with Reusable Materials
Have scrap paper, newspapers, toilet paper/paper towel rolls, or magazines laying around? Put out some glue sticks or tape and challenge your child to create using these materials!
- Have a Camping Day to Conserve Energy
Make a point to conserve energy in your house for the day by "camping for a day." Pretend that your family is camping and can't use electricity for a day. Break out the flashlights and, if you're feeling adventurous, set up a tent in the living room. You can read books, spend time in nature, tell campfire stories, and host a green picnic using all materials that can be reused (no plastic plates or utensils here!). Spend the nighttime stargazing without the glare of the household lights. Core memories are sure to be made!
Bonus Earth Month Resources
Nationaltoday.com: Earth Month
The Sierra Club: 10 Additional Ways to Celebrate Earth Month
Make It (the Planet) Cute
At Make It Cute, we are committed to sustainability as one of our core values. Our indoor playhouses are made from 50% recycled materials and are 100% recyclable so you can rest easy knowing you're making a responsible choice for your children and the planet. We also partner with EARTHDAY.ORG's The Canopy Project to plant a tree for each playhouse sold. We believe in being stewards for the environment and making a difference to improve the health of the planet not only on Earth Day, but all year long!
Connect with us on Instagram @makeitcutekids to learn more about ways you can join us to make a difference for our planet!