19 Best Earth Day Activities for the Whole Family

God created a beautiful planet Earth for us to live on and enjoy. We want to take care of this planet and keep it looking amazing for future generations to enjoy. On April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day. It’s a time to honor God’s creation while reminding our kids how important it is to take care of our planet. These family Earth Day Activities are great ways to learn about our amazing earth while passing on the responsibility for taking care of it.

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Can Christians Celebrate Earth Day?

As Christians, we take a different view of the earth than some people. We believe that God is in control of all things. There is no such person as Mother Earth or Mother Nature.

There are no powers that control the climate. Only God controls the weather.

God created this world perfect and beautiful. Sinful men have damaged it over the years. As children of God, we can celebrate Earth Day differently. It’s a day we can remember that God called Adam and Eve to take care of the earth. Now, that responsibility has fallen to you and me.

We can use this day to honor God for all the things He created. Participating in meaningful Earth Day activities is a great way to help kids of all ages learn to love and respect the natural world God gave us.

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How to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids

As a homeschool mom, I’m always looking for ways to educate my kids that don’t include textbooks. Earth Day allows us to talk to our kids about the many different ways we can take care of the planet.

We can talk to our kids about what it means to make good use of the natural resources God has created. We can also talk to our kids about how to make our world a happier and healthier place.

Here are some great ideas for fun Earth Day activities that get your kids out into nature learning about our amazing world.

19 Family Earth Day Activities

Being with your family is always a fun way to celebrate any holiday! Earth Day especially gives us a great opportunity for family outings. Go outside and have a good time learning more about our lovely world with the whole family.

Plant a tree together in your backyard or a local park.

Tree planting is pretty easy. And it’s a perfect opportunity for your kids to watch something grow over time. One day, they can tell their kids about the day that the big apple tree in the backyard was just a sapling!

Wood is a fabulous renewable resource, and performs an important role in the photosynthesis process.

Organize a family clean-up day in your neighborhood or at a nearby beach or trail.

Litter is so ugly! Our family lives on a country road, and it’s so sad to us when people throw trash out. Teach your kids that it’s never okay to toss trash on the ground,

But go a step further by choosing a patch of highway, a park or a neighborhood and pick up all the trash.

Create a compost bin for your food scraps and garden waste.

Compost serves an important role in gardens! Modern technology has given us so many fun options for compost bins–no stink involved. It’s a great way to start talking to your kids about the importance of plants in our ecosystem.

Start an herb or vegetable garden together.

Gardens are not only fun, but they’re also a great educational experience for the whole family. You don’t need to go all out and plant a huge garden.

Plant a few easy vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes or lettuce, or fruit like strawberries. Even if you don’t have a yard, you can plant these in pots on your porch.

Herbs are also easy, and you can grow them on your kitchen counter. Check out this miniature garden kit that has everything you need to grow vegetables indoors.

Make bird feeders using recycled materials and hang them in your yard.

It’s super easy to make a DIY bird feeder art project. All you need are used toilet paper tubes, some peanut butter, and birdseed.

Cover the toilet paper roll with the peanut butter, then roll in in birdseed. Thread a string through the roll and tie it in a tree. Then, watch the birds enjoy their meal!

Take a nature walk and identify different plants, animals, and insects.

Earth Day is the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of nature outdoors. You can do a nature scavenger hunt, or take pictures of neat bugs or plants you want to look up later.

Spending time outside is good for your mental health, plus it’s a great educational opportunity!

Build a DIY birdhouse or insect hotel for your garden.

Now that all of your feathered friends are coming by to eat your birdseed, make a little home for them to stay in! You don’t need to start from scratch. Just grab a ready-made kit and put it together.

Another great option is to build an insect hotel. There is so much to learn from watching bugs move around in their own little home!

Go on a bike ride.

Another great way to celebrate nature while spending time together is to go on a bike ride together. You might be able to ride around in your neighborhood, on a bike trail, or in a nearby park.

Have a family discussion about ways to reduce energy consumption at home.

It’s no secret that energy costs are rising–just take a look at your monthly heating or cooling bill! One of the best ways to conserve your energy (and your money!) is to talk to your family about small changes you can make.

I don’t know about you, but my kids don’t seem to know that the switches turn the lights off as well as on! There are lots of little things you can do to save money and energy in your home.

Create art projects using recycled materials, like making collages or sculptures.

You don’t need to go out and buy fancy art supplies. Some fun Earth Day projects might be using old magazines or newspapers to make paper mache sculptures. Or, use recycled objects to make a mosaic. For younger kids, you can get creative with popsicle sticks or plastic bottles.

Start a family nature journal and document your outdoor adventures.

Creating a family nature journal is a great Earth Day activity that you can use for years to come. You can use a simple sketch book to record plants, animals, or insects that you find together.

Young kids can draw pictures, while older kids can write and draw information about the things they see.

Cook a meal together using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.

Even if your new garden isn’t producing yet, you can go to a local grocery store or farmer’s market to pick up some locally-grown produce. It’s a fun way to get your kids to try some new foods and flavors.

Let the whole family participate in the cooking. You might be surprised what foods your kids will try when they prepare it themselves.

Watch a documentary or nature as a family and discuss it afterward.

One of our favorite shows to watch is Wild Kratts on PBS Kids. My kids have learned so much watching that show. My husband and I enjoy it, too, since we both grew up watching Chris and Martin Kratt.

Here are a few other fun nature or animal shows to watch with your kids:

Zaboomafoo (my favorite when I was a kid!)
Leo the Wildlife Ranger (great for littles)
Nature Cat

Make homemade natural cleaners using ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.

Homemade natural cleaners are not only cheap and easy to make, but they are also effective. Our grandmothers made their own cleaners, and they worked really well.

Making your own cleaners from natural materials can also be a fun science lesson for your kiddos.

Visit a nearby farm to learn about sustainable agriculture practices.

There is so much to learn at small family farms, and they love to teach others. They often have fun activities for kids, especially at the changing of the seasons. (Planting in the spring, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes in the fall.)

Visiting a farm is a good idea for helping kids learn and understand where their food comes from. Not to mention, there are sometimes animals to meet and touch. Who doesn’t love to spend time with llamas and bunnies?

Organize a clothing or toy swap with friends and neighbors to reduce waste.

As moms, it can be frustrating to buy new clothes and toys, and then throw them away when our kids are finished with them. Arranging a swap or passing them on to someone else who needs them is much more effective!

You may get together with a group of friends for the swap. Or you might try a local shop where they buy and sell used clothing. This has saved my family lots of money over the years.

Turn off all electronic devices for the day and spend time outdoors.

Most of us are probably addicted to our devices–and it’s not good for us! Spending time outside in the sun makes a big difference in your mood and mental health.

There are also so many more opportunities to learn when you spend time outside.

Go stargazing in a location away from city lights and talk about light pollution.

My family is blessed to live out in the country where street lights are few and far between. We get a pretty good view of the stars most nights.

But if you live in a town or city, your kids might not get a good view of the stars. Take an opportunity to drive out away from the lights and take a good look at the night sky,

It’s also a good time to talk to your kids about the effects bright lights have on our bodies as well as wildlife.

Build a miniature terrarium or succulent garden together.

Terrariums are not only adorable, they’re educational and fun, too. All you need are some glass jars, potting soil, and moss. Then, you can add some little plants or succulents.

It’s like having your own tiny greenhouse!

Make DIY reusable shopping bags from old t-shirts or fabric scraps.

Plastic bags take up a lot of space in landfills, and they don’t disintegrate. Reusable bags are easy to make and can be used over and over for years.

The Importance of Earth Day

Our Earth is amazing, and we only get one in this lifetime. Earth Day is about so much more than environmental issues, fossil fuels, or climate change. Instead, it’s a day we can be thankful for our planet and learn more about taking care of it.

These family Earth Day activities give a good opportunity for family members to talk about small steps that make a difference for our world.