Earth Hour and Earth Day Ideas
We are big believers in taking care of our environment. It doesn’t take much to participate in preserving the Earth, but even little efforts made can make a difference. Earth Hour is Saturday 23 March, 2024, (8:30-9:30pm local time) and Earth Day is Monday 22 April, 2024 and the theme is Planet vs. Plastics. The theme calls to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion.Â
More than 1 billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest general public observance in the world.
Both events are a great opportunity to teach our kids about taking care of the environment, offering so many learning opportunities. It is a great chance to really be one with your community and have some fun, all while doing something positive for the environment.
Although Earth Hour and Earth Day have a serious underlying message, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t fun ways to celebrate it with your children:
1. Walk them to school
Walking not only saves you petrol, but it decreases the amount of pollutants released into the air. Create a fun game to play on the walk, such as who can spot the most/coolest animals.
2. Plant something in the Earth
Most kids love getting dirty, so this is a great one! Whether it’s a seed, a flower or a tree, creating new life is always great for the environment. Once it grows you are left with either yummy food you grew yourself, or a beautiful flower to remind you that you did something great for the Earth. You can read about ‘Gardening with Kids‘ in our magazine and on our website.
3. Make a poster saying ‘Happy Earth Day’
Make a poster that says “Happy Earth Day” and then have your kids decorate it. This will encourage conversations about the Earth and help your child to learn about how to preserve it. After it’s done, hang it on your front door. Not only will your child have had fun coloring, but your neighbours will be reminded that it is Earth Day.
4. Decorate a recycling bin
Take your regular old recycling bin and let your children decorate it. While they are having fun painting trees and birds, inform them about the earth and why it is important to take care of it.
5. Visit the zoo
Most of Brisbane’s zoos have special Earth Day activities (Earth Day is a school day for most, but you can visit over the weekend). Your children can learn first-hand about the natural environment and seeing the animals in person will remind them of why it’s important to protect them.
6. Take pictures of planet Earth
Whip out the digital camera and have the kids go on a walk to find their favorite tree or garden, and then take a picture of it. Once you are back home, have a slideshow with the pictures. Ask the kids why they liked that spot so much, and explain to them how they could preserve it.
7. Turn the lights off
Create a game where if someone forgets to turn the lights off when they leave a room, they owe 25 cents to the Earth Day jar. This is a good way to teach them how preserving energy can help the environment.
8. Make Promises to our Earth
Fill a chalkboard (or large piece of paper) up with promises that you and your kids are going to make to the environment. Suggestions include pledging to go ‘plastic free’ when eating out – carry your own reusable straws and cutlery, and always remembering to take reusable shopping bags with you to the shops.
9. Donate
With the kids, go through your house and bag all of the things that your family no longer uses or wears. Once you’re done, take the bags to a local place that accepts donations. This teaches kids about reusing, recycling and giving.
10. Discover a Discovery Centre
In and around Brisbane we have lots of local discovery centres to choose from offering experiences from animal encounters, interactive displays and nature play, to bushwalks and wildlife discovery and a whole lot more! Let your children discover new ways to help and appreciate the environment and planet Earth at a centre near you. You can find them here.
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