Happy Earth Day! Today we celebrate the planet and all Mother Earth has gifted us with. Hoping to give back? Here are some fun things we came up with that you can involve the whole family in.
Take a Bike Ride
Ditching the car for the day can reduce toxins released into the air and can help you come up with fun ways to get your body moving! Taking a skateboard, scooter, bike, or even rollerblades for your commute helps reduce your carbon footprint. Leave the minivan in the garage and take bikes instead.
Grow a Garden
We may not all have green thumb, but we sure can try! Gardening is a great way to get the whole family together and learn about taking care of plants. Looking to really help the planet? Trying growing a fruit or vegetable garden, which helps cut costs at the grocery store, reduces the amount of packaging you purchase, and is a great way to learn about different types of plants and their benefits.
Install a Bird Feeder, Bird House, or a Bird Bath
There’s nothing better than hearing the birds sing, except maybe hearing it in your own backyard! Installing a feature for birds at your house allows kids to learn about birds and their habitats while also improving your yard. Don’t believe us? Birds are natural pollinators, help aerate your grass, and get rid of destructive insects. Plus, bird baths attract honey bees and butterflies as well.
Donate
Spring cleaning, anyone? Going through old clothes, furniture, and books as a family is a great way to clear out the clutter and learn the importance of giving things away. The Salvation Army takes all kinds of household items, Habitat for Humanity will take furniture off your hands, the Toy Rescue Mission collects gently-used toys, and Half Price Books in Tacoma pays cash for used books. Donating also reduces the waste that is thrown in landfills.
Use Reusable Water Bottles
60 million water bottles are thrown away each day in America, equaling more than 22 billion dollars in a year. Using reusable water bottles is an easy way to stop wasting water bottles and choosing to drink soda out of a can or a glass bottle is a great way to reduce plastic waste as well. Take the family on a shopping trip for everyone to pick out reusable water bottles, maybe even have a water bottle decorating party, and encourage them to stop wasting plastic bottles.
Adopt an Endangered Species
Helping save endangered species and their habitats is a great way to promote the Earth and its inhabitants. Various organizations like World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, and the World Animal Foundation have programs that allow you to “adopt” an animal for a price and they’ll send a photo, certificate, and information about the animal. WWF even sends a plush version of your animal if you donate $55. This is a fun activity to have the kids chose and animal and they have their personal adoption kit arrive in the mail.
Spend this Earth Day being conscientious about conservation efforts with the whole family. Let us know how you gave back to Earth today by sharing on one of our social media platforms. We at Sound Family hope you have a safe and happy holiday and remember to go green!
