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Children who live in urban centers, or even in the suburbs, are often disconnected from nature. There are several fun activities that you can do with children as you reconnect with nature and our environment. Here are some of my favorite environmental education activities for kids:

Adopt a tree

While walking or hiking, ask your child to pick a favorite tree in a park or forest and ‘adopt’ it. Essentially, your child will take on the role of caretaker of the tree. Rub bark with crayons and paper; leaf collection and pressing in the fall; and look for flowers and fruits in summer. Every year, take pictures of your child standing by the tree. You can even carry a tape measure to track the growth of the tree. Children can also research the tree on the internet: where it is commonly found, usual lifespan, height, etc.

Keep a wildlife diary

Have your child take daily notes on all the wildlife that lives in your neighborhood. They can even take pictures or draw pictures and record sighting times, habitats, and behavior patterns. It’s amazing how many different species live in your own backyard! Some examples are: raccoons, squirrels, birds, frogs, ants, crickets, etc.

Clear the land

A good way to teach our children to take care of our planet, and do some exercise at the same time, is to take bags with you when you go for a walk. As you do so, “clean up” along the way. You can pick up loose bottles, newspapers, and discarded food containers. You can organize an “Environment Club” in your neighborhood or at your child’s school. Make it a contest to see who can get the most items. Choose different paths on different days to clean a wide area. Take the time to talk to your kids about recycling and reducing waste. (Children can wear rubber gloves or bring a pointed stick if they don’t want to touch the trash.)

Environmental education for children is more important than ever. Teaching your children to care for the planet will bring them closer together and give them life skills that they can pass on to others. Look online for more environmental activities for kids that teach them to be “green.” More schools are incorporating green policies into their programs, but when it comes to going green, there is no place like home.

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