7 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Your Child

Getting outdoors can be fun and educational. Embrace these simple tips to spark creativity and expand your child’s palette. Even small steps can pave the way toward saving the planet!

1. Plant a seed. Inspire their green thumbs by planting a few different flowers, vegetables, or herbs. It’ll be fun to get down and dig in the dirt and the real joy will come as the plants grow.
2. Take a hike. Pick a local nature trail and become explorers. Challenge the kids to use a map and compass to chart their course. Take note of interesting things along the way, like animal tracks or different trees and leaves that are in bloom.

   

3. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Participate in a local park cleanup or start your own. Create a birdfeeder out of recycled materials like a milk carton or plastic soda bottle. Attend local Earth Day festivities and find out more about how you can do your part to make your everyday life a little more “green.”
4. Play “I Spy” with a twist. Vibrant colors are in full bloom in nature. Grab a bunch of free paint samples from the hardware store for inspiration. Out on a walk or in your own yard, point out or gather items that match the colors in the spectrum. Put the items together or snap photos for a color wheel collage.
5. Set up a toy workshop. You can concoct your own playdough using items you probably already have around the house—oatmeal, flour, and water. You can also make eco-friendly paint right in your kitchen. Cardboard boxes make great dollhouses or forts.

   

6. To market, to market. Visit your local farmers’ market. Bring your own reusable bags and enjoy the homegrown treats and community atmosphere. Make it extra educational by giving the kids a small amount of money and having them practice counting, selecting, weighing, and paying for items.
7. Get unplugged. Challenge your family to turn off the TV and electronic devices for a day and spend some time outdoors. Not only will you conserve energy, but you will enjoy time together without constant beeping and ringing. Plan an obstacle course/relay race, organize a neighborhood kickball game, or tell stories around a campfire.

   

There are plenty of free or inexpensive ways to celebrate this Earth Day with your kids and get outdoors. Our sponsor, Orange County Virtual School (OCVS), encourages students to get outside and enjoy the weather through the OCVS Fitness Club. Students, parents, and faculty gather monthly and walk or run the Cady Way Trail in Winter Park.

Orange County Virtual School is a tuition-free K-5 virtual public school available to families in Orange County, Florida. Their program creates a personalized learning experience for families using the Calvert curriculum. OCVS provides an opportunity for parents to be more directly involved in their child’s education outside the traditional classroom.

To learn more, register for one of their upcoming events and meet their staff.