10 easy ways kids can help the environment

10 easy ways kids can help the environment

By Babysits
5 min read

Simple actions can inspire kids to protect the environment. Read our ideas and start taking action to help the planet with the kids in your life!

Educating kids about environmental impact

It is crucial for kids to understand a few things in order to be truly inspired to protect the environment.

  1. Understanding why the environment matters and how we benefit from it.
  2. Understanding how our daily activities can impact the environment and planet as a whole.

There are several ways to teach this to children.

First of all, you can try explaining environmental matters yourself. When doing so, it’s helpful to use familiar themes/places as a frame of reference. This makes it easier for kids to understand and visualize both the environment in general and the impacts.

Of course, there are plenty of educational resources where kids can learn more about the environment and our impact as well, for example:

  • Youtube videos
  • Online activities / websites
  • Books
  • Documentaries
  • DIYs

You can even sneak environmental lessons into everyday activities, like when taking a walk or sorting the recycling.

Everyday activities are some of the best moments to help educate kids, as well as show them how they can take action to protect the planet themselves!

Simple actions you can take with kids to help the environment

There are tons of actions you can take with kids to help the environment, some may have a larger direct environmental impact, while others lean more heavily towards the educational impact.

Here are some of our favorite actions, but don’t be afraid to use your imagination and come up with other actions that you can do with the kids in your life. Be inspired!

Actions that save energy/resources

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth 💧

You can save close to 3,000 gallons of water a year with this one tiny change!

Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room 💡

Turning your lights off can help save energy and money. You can make it a game, every time your child finds a light on in an empty room, you put a coin in a jar!

Actions that reduce/reuse/recycle

Don’t use plastic bags 🛍

Teaching children to use reusable bags at a young age is the first step to their eco-friendly mindfulness. You can get one that has a photo or a favorite phrase so your child wants to bring it everywhere, then you won't have to remember!

Make crafts/toys with leftover items ✂️

Ask kids to put on their creative caps! What can they create with leftover items? Check our DIY posts for ideas.

Recycle ♻️

You can create a mask or cape that your child can wear while recycling and you can create a superhero name - RecycleGirl! Read our tips about how to teach kids about recycling here.

Actions for kids with a green thumb

Plant your own fruits and vegetables 🍎🥦

Growing your own food can teach children about the lifecycle and how to care for a living organism. By way of teaching them to grow something from a seed it can also help children develop a relationship with the plant and learn responsibility for other living things. Here's a fun plant experiment for them to start growing their own little garden!

Plant your own tree 🌳

This is the perfect chance to explain why trees are important to us as humans and how to cultivate your childs green-thumb.

Have a vegetarian day 🧑‍🍳

According to the Earth Day Network, If the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road. Educate yourself and your children on the effects of eating meat. Have your children create new names for vegetarian foods and create a kitchen “menu”. Check out some of our kids-friendly vegetarian recipes!

Environmental actions for active kids

Ride your bike to school or work 🚲

Not only does a bike not release carbon emissions, it is good for cardiovascular health. Children often choose to stay inside to play on their electronics but exercise still needs to be a daily priority.

Pick up trash around the neighborhood 🚮

Go on a trash walk where you collect loose trash around the neighborhood or at a local park. You can also join organized volunteer groups for this, or do a beach clean up!

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These are some simple actions you can take with kids to help encourage them to protect the environment!

Some other great kids-friendly resources for environmental actions or education are:

Looking to take more Climate Action?

We’re a member of Leaders for Climate Action, and they’ve provided quick and easy actions that any individual can take in order to take action for the climate. Check out the actions here!

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