“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.”
So today is Earth Day, but I only recently realized how awesome this planet really is.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older or because I get to watch my 2-year-old discover things like mountains and worms.
Whatever the reason, I've begun to notice the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
It's funny because kids do this automatically. They see a super tall tree and think it's amazing. They watch birds fly and think they're magical. We should all be so lucky.
As we crossed a bridge one day, headed towards the Catskill Mountains, my 14-year-old said to me, "You know, sometimes I forget how amazing the mountains are because I see them everyday."
Yea my kid's pretty special.
But he's so right. I feel like our appreciation for the planet is dwindling. From the way water gets pumped into our home, to how many bees it takes to make one jar of honey (it's somewhere around 600).
We've become disconnected from our relationship with it all.
Typically on Earth Day most of the world focuses on the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. While I think those steps are extremely important, if kids don't see their connection to the earth, I believe they're less likely to care for it.
So here are 5 simple ways to celebrate Earth Day with your kiddos:
1. Plant a garden. I know this seems obvious, but it's so important for kids to know that food isn't made in a factory, or in the back room of the supermarket. Real food comes from the Earth. Your garden doesn't have to be massive to have an impact. A small backyard plot or even some potted plants, like tomatoes or lettuce will do just fine. Let them dig in, get their hands dirty, and watch their food grow. Once they see all the resources it takes, just to put fresh food on their plate, maybe they'll be less likely to waste it.
2. Go for a simple walk. There used to be a time where people just walked for the hell of it. I know it seems crazy, but people didn't do it for exercise while listening to music, or just to get from here to there, and you didn't do it while checking email or texting your friends. If you were taking a stroll you were also taking in the scene; birds chirping, wind blowing, sun shining, flowers blooming. It's easier to appreciate the beauty of nature when we aren't distracted.
3. Explore a new territory. My boys and I recently took a hike around Lake Minnewaska in upstate NY. There's all sorts of things you come across in the mountains that you don't see other places. During our jaunt we came across a cool porcupine, spotted some tadpoles in the lake, and saw the gorgeous valley below. Experiencing a part of nature that's unfamiliar and new can help your kids hold on to that sense of excitement and wonder.
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| Lake Minnewaska |
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| My boys |
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| Exploring |
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| Well hello there Mr. Tadpole. |
4. Re-purpose Old Toys. If kids only knew that every year, the United States generates approximately 230 million tons of "trash". Including their once beloved action figures, electronic equipment, or whatever else is no longer "cool" to them. One way to avoid the dump is to donate old toys to a local charity like Good Will. Another is to find a new way to use their stuff. Check out these awesome planters made from toy dinosaurs and an old fire truck turned into a lamp.
5. Go Dark. In a world where most middle school kids have cell phones, an iPod, a laptop, or some other device to keep them busy, you can get some quality family time and reduce your use of energy by unplugging for the day. At the very least in might force them to play outside.
We have to remember that everyday should be Earth Day, and if we want to continue to reap the benefits of Mother Nature we need to do everything in our power to protect her inhabitants and her natural resources.
Got any plans for Earth Day? Share them below!
If you're looking for more ways to live a more natural lifestyle, I can help!
To learn more about my holistic lifestyle coaching practice, take a peek at Soul Fueled Living!
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