healthy living
Celebrating Earth Day
Transform the day into a yearlong lifestyle for your family LEA HANSON
T
his Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 teach your kids about the earth and how to create a sustainable world. While Earth Day may be just one day of celebrating together as a community, being earth and environmentally conscious is a lifestyle and one we ought to be practicing all year long. First and foremost, kids learn through example. They need to see how protecting and preserving the Earth is important to us as the adults in their lives, not just by our words, but by our actions. The following are some easy ways we can teach kids the significance of Earth Day and saving our planet through our own actions: • Not littering and picking up litter when • • • • • • • • •
we see others do it Recycling materials in our homes Turning out lights when not in use Not wasting water Emphasizing the importance of walking and/or bike riding to reduce fuel emissions Program the thermostat to be more energy efficient Reusing and re-purposing rather than using disposable items Teach kids how to grow plants and herbs Build a birdhouse in your backyard When shopping at the grocery store, use recyclable bags.
Encourage your kids to follow your examples. Talk about why these Earth-saving practices are important. Kids will follow in your footsteps once they understand the value in what they’re doing.
INTRODUCING EARTH DAY A great way to introduce your children to the outdoors is to take them on walks or hikes and let them explore nature. When you go out for a walk, let the children lead the way, pick up items such as flowers, sticks or rocks and talk about them. Stop and listen to the wind blow, and show them that the simple things are important. When you’re on a hike, take the time to feel the 16
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texture of moss and look at the bugs that you encounter. Teaching your kids to take the time to experience nature and respect the environment is a great first step. Reading books is another great way to introduce the concept of Earth Day and environmentalism in general. Some great books include “Earth Day: An Alphabet Book” (By Gary Kowalski), “Earth Day Birthday” (By Maureen Wright), “Our Big Home: An Earth Poem” (By Linda Glaser), “Michael Recycle” (By Ellie Bethel), “The Earth Book” (By Todd Parr), “The Happiness Tree” (By Andrea Alban Gosline), “The Lorax” (By Dr. Seuss), “10 Things I Can Do to Help My World” (By Melanie Walsh), “All the World” (By Liz Garton Scanlon), and “All Around Me I See” (By Laya Steinberg and Cris Arbo). NORTHERN COLORADO EARTH DAY EVENTS Earth Day Fort Collins Civic Center Park Saturday, April 18, 11am-5pm
This event is a combination of activities and events for the entire family, featuring informational booths and displays, arts and crafts, live music, speakers, local food and a beer garden. Admission is free and attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the Food Bank.
Earth Week at the University of Northern Colorado April 20-24
Check the schedule of events online at www.unco.edu/hsl/earthday City of Loveland Earth Day City of Loveland Foote Lagoon Saturday, April 25, 10am-3pm
Last year’s inaugural event hosted over 35 booths including educational displays, vendors, test drives of electric vehicles, live music, good food, and much more. This event is free. In addition to local Earth Day celebrations, there are many opportunities for families to participate in all year long. Take advantage of the many family volunteer opportunities northern Colorado offers that stress the importance of giving back to the community and our planet. Family volunteer projects create valuable bonding time and, at the same time, teach kids about environmental concerns. By implementing these suggestions, you are teaching your kids about energy conservation, recycling, increasing plant growth, respect for nature, saving water, keeping the environment clean; planting trees and flowers to increase oxygen; reducing air pollution; and love and respect for all animals who inhabit the earth.