Earth day is a great opportunity to teach little ones about the earth and how we care for her. Use these easy earth day ideas for toddlers at home or out in nature to help your children to be more mindful of the earth. Each of these earth-caring or earth-inspired craft activities is designed to help spend time with the Earth this week!
Here I am, Earth Day is tomorrow and I am only just getting around to sharing these ideas. But I love the earth. I love earth day so much for the little reminder to care for our beautiful planet. I am 100% an advocate of celebrating and spending time outdoors every day. We always need to be mindful of how our actions impact the earth. These earth day ideas for toddlers, however, can be a fun project to increase your children’s awareness of caring for the planet.
Earth-Caring Ideas
Involve your children in a service project, big or small. Our toddler loves helping to pick up trash that he sees outside. Bring gloves and a garbage bag – here are some areas you could focus your efforts:
Pick up Trash in your Yard or Neighborhood
Clean up a hiking Trail
Clean up a paved bike trail
Less Polution. Consciously choose to walk, ride bikes, or take the bus instead of taking the car today.
Earth-Learning Ideas
Nature Study. Spend time in nature observing what you see. For young toddlers this can be as simple as sitting outside and talking about what you see the birds doing or watching for squirrels. Try playing “I spy”, calling out what you see in the nature around you. For older children you can bring notebooks to draw/write observations from nature.
Visit a local nature center to learn more about your area.
Read Nature Books. Learn together about trees, bugs, rocks… whatever sparks your toddler’s interest – entertain that interest by allowing them to delve deep and keep learning!
Plant Seeds. Starting peas or beans in a bag could be a great learning experience!
After spending time outdoors caring for and learning about the earth, try one of these crafts with items your toddler finds outside!
Earth Day Crafts for Toddlers
Less Waste. Reduce waste by creating from things you might otherwise throw away. Help your kids be creative with things around your home. Recycled items, empty jars, and old crayons.
Make Sand Play-Dough and decorate with items from nature (seashells, sticks, rocks, pinecones) or make bug or nature fossils like these.
Create a Bug Hotel and learn about how bugs help our earth.
Practice fine motor skills and make an “earth day garland” with leaf threading.
Nature Weaving with flowers, leaves, even sticks.
Make Nature Boats and send them downstream.
Earth-Day Gift Ideas for Toddlers
Earth day can also be a fun opportunity to offer simple gifts that spark your child’s interest!
Hiking shoes or rain boots
Magnifying glass and binoculars
Nature Inspired Books (these are the books on our wishlist!)
If you try out any of these ideas I would love to hear about how they go for you or your little ones! Please share with me in the comments below or tag me on Instagram.
Looking for more Earth Day Ideas? Check out these simple lifestyle changes for earth day!
Looking for more ways to add intention to your days? Join my mailing list for more inspiration.
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