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Remember Mother Earth
Celebrating Earth Day With Your Children
By Teri Brown
So exactly how does one go about celebrating Earth Day? Some may choose to celebrate with their community, while others may simply participate in activities as a family.
Elicia Fritsch, campaign manager for Earth Share of Georgia, a national fund-raising organization based in Washington, D.C., for environmental and conservation groups, believes that any celebrations must first start with understanding. "It's important for the parents to understand and embrace the importance of the environment in their lives," says Fritsch. "If children learn by example and the message is reinforced in learning, the celebration of Earth Day is a natural extension to teach them to be responsible stewards of the Earth."
Fritsch cautions, however, that parents should be careful when discussing environmental issues with their children. Earth Day is a day to learn about the environment and learn about what we can do to save it, not about all the problems we are having. "It should be a celebration, not a 'sky is falling' approach," says Fritsche.
Judy Braus, education director for the World Wildlife Fund, says that there are a myriad of activities you can do with your children. "We encourage parents and kids to get involved in Earth Day activities from exploring amazing places in their own backyards to taking part in clean-ups, speaker events and special programs that highlight environmental issues," says Braus.
Braus suggests parents check with zoos, aquariums, museums, universities, nature centers, parks and other community institutions to see what activities they may have planned for Earth Day, as she says most offer special programs and activities geared toward young people, as well as adults. In addition, she says, "There are many community projects that focus on recycling, cleaning up local parks and wild areas, picking up trash along beaches and rivers and so on."
If you prefer to celebrate Earth Day on your own, why not visit one of our national parks? Many have their own Earth Day celebrations, and it's a great way to educate your children on the importance of our national parks. Nature walks with a handy bird or plant identification guide are other ways you can honor the day and teach your children about the environment.
Cristy Riggs of Clemson, S.C., began home-schooling her youngest child last year and plans on making Earth Day extra special this year. "We've covered a lot about trees this year in science," says Riggs. "We've studied rainforests, habitats, ecosystems, etc. We are joining the arbor foundation and we will be planting trees this year."
Debi Salanitro of Vinland, N.J., tries to find Earth Day activities that help teach her children about reusing and recycling. "For Earth Day one year, I announced to my 5-year-old son that we were going make paper," says Salanitro. "He looked at me as though I were quite nuts, and maybe I was." But the paper turned out well and had a huge impact on her son. "To this day, he loves Earth Day because he now loves making paper and looks for every reason to do it!" says Salanitro.