How do you keep your child interested in the concept of the Earth Month celebrations, fanfare, and hoopla? More so, how do you accomplish this without being too preachy? It’s easier than you think. Just follow the Fun Ways to Get Your Child Excited about Protecting the Planet tips below and you’ll bestow a love for the planet within your child.
Fun and Natural Ways to Get Your Child Excited About Protecting the Planet
Provide Them with Outdoor Learning Experiences
Studies show that outdoor learning significantly improves cognitive and social development in children. The verdict has been in on that assertion for quite some time. But what is even more interesting (in this context) is that something as simple as regular outdoor play can have a significant impact on how kids feel about nature when they mature. A recent UBC study found that children who play outside are more likely to protect nature as adults. In fact, 87% of respondents who played outside as children expressed a continued love of nature as adults. From that group, a whopping 84% stated that taking care of the environment was a priority. If playing can have that sort of a long-term impact, imagine what playtime, integrated with outdoor learning experiences can have.
Strapped for ideas on adequate (and fun) outdoor learning experiences? Fret not, our Foundation has you covered. You can take an eco-tour near you, partake in a beach clean-up, volunteer at a local community garden, and much more. We have concepts to cover you and your kids through spring (click here), summer (click here), autumn (click here) and even winter (bundle up, then click here). But outdoor learning doesn’t stop in your locale. If your family is planning a vacation in the weeks or months ahead, consider these three learning vacation concepts that will continue to educate your child in the ways of the world, literally.
Through What They Watch, Read, and Download
Of course, you can’t always take your kids outside when it comes to leisure time. Their education about the planet need not stop because they have to come indoors. Inside time is when they can get distracted from healthier habits. That’s why you need to provide them with alternatives when it comes to digital and hard copy consumption.
For starters, stock your BluRay shelf (or Netflix subscription) with entertaining films that include strong environmental themes. These four children’s movies are a good place to start. Your child probably enjoys some sort of tablet (iPad, etc.) which is why you also want to download apps that address environmental concerns in a way that is engaging for kids. These popular apps about sustainable gardening and farming are appropriate. Are they fans of browsing the web? We’ve got something special for them. Our Foundation has launched a Kid’s Corner which is chock-full of downloadable/virtual games and workbooks with eco-conscious themes.
Lastly, there’s nothing quite like books (real books) to keep kids enthralled. These top five children’s books on sustainable gardening will have them turning pages for hours on end. Inside you’ll find our now classic Plant a Seed & See What Grows, but we’re also proud to follow-up with the new What to Do with What You Grew, which is available for free download. Alternatively, you can purchase a hardcopy here.
Earth Month is important to keep the topic at the forefront of your mind and more importantly, your child’s mind. After all, the children are the ones to inherit the earth. They’ll also be the ones to plant the seed for generations to follow.
Do you have any innovative ways to get kids excited about the earth that you would like to share? We’d love to hear about them! Follow our Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+, find this article on our recently published posts and leave a comment.
The Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation also encourages your family to help other inhabitants of this fine planet, those who are in need. Please visit this link to learn more about our work in Canada and be a Friend of the Foundation.
