Earth Day Activities for Toddlers

Earth Day is such a fun time to teach your children about the environment from planting a tree to how new trees give us fresh air, all the way to how to recycle and save our ozone. There is so much to learn on Earth Day so let us dive in.

When was Earth Day founded and how did it come about?

Earth Day was founded by the United States Senator Gaylord Nelson and was first celebrated in 1970. Some places call it Earth Week and focus on activities dealing with environmental issues. Earth Day is such an amazing day to get out there and learn something new about our environment. You also have the opportunity to teach others in the process.

Here are activities that you can do with your toddler on Earth Day, other than planting trees, seeds, or plants.

1. 1. 1. Make an Earth Collage with magazine and newspaper clippings, tissue paper, construction paper, and more.
      2. Learn the difference between paper and plastic products. Teach them by separating into two different piles, boxes, or trash cans. You could even go on a hunt in your neighborhood to pick up trash to sort if you have none around your home.
      3. Make a bug house. Take a shoebox or anything else you have and make a small habitat for bugs. You can use sticks, leaves, grass, rocks, and more!
      4. Make a birdseed holder out of a toilet paper roll and peanut butter. Then roll in birdseed and hang up outside. YouTube has this great video here that shows you step by step and it doesn’t take long to make.
      5. Earth Day sensory bottles can be created with a lot of different things around your home. The number 1 thing you need is a water bottle. If you want, you can add blue or green to the water. Then you can add beads, sparkles, shells, rocks, sand, and/or more. Here are some ideas: Earth Day Sensory Bottles. 
      6. Paint rocks all different things and Pinterest has you covered on tons of inspiration
      7. Scavenger Hunts- We started these last year and the kids learned about worms, birds, and flowers. You can also teach about bees and bugs, moss, weeds, and so much more.
2. Make signs for don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth or turn off the light when you are done in a room.
3. Pick up trash around your neighborhood or local park.
4. Collect rainwater by making a container and then using the water to hydrate the trees and plants.
5. Make your own Earth! We did and the boys had an absolutely amazing time. We used neon glow and the dark paint so it lights up in there bedroom at night.

Need more ideas?

You can grow lettuce from old lettuce or grow plants in leftover glass jars. The options are endless, but you are looking for more ideas for even older children to check out Little Bins for Little Hands. I absolutely love their STEM activities.

There is so much to discover and learn outside. We must take care of it in order for it to be around for future generations.

What do you do for Earth Day with your children? What would you like to try this year or next?

Sincerely,