Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at Home with Your Kids
Nature-themed puzzles, composting and eco-friendly crafts are just a few things you can do at home to celebrate the Earth
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Discover Composting: Chrissy Word, director of education at City Parks Foundation, suggests creating or purchasing a compost bin to teach your kids how to use it. Whether it be egg shells, fruit and veggie peelings or leftovers gone bad, you likely already have all the makings of compost in your fridge and pantry. Get your kids excited about composting by making it a hands-on adventure throughout the kitchen, and be sure to remind them what can't be added to the bin. You can learn more about composting in NYC here.
A Word About Artificial Light: Word also suggests educating your child about the importance of reducing city light pollution, particularly during bird migration season. Reducing artificial light at night is a quick and easy way to promote safe bird migration, pollinator reproduction and our own physical health. Take time to traverse your own home with your child, looking for ways to reduce nighttime light pollution. Showing them how to turn off exterior flood lights and close curtains and blinds during bird migration season (late April through mid-May) is a great place to start.
Plan Time Outdoors: Sit down with your child and discuss some exciting ways they could have fun outdoors this summer! Not all local parents know that NYC is packed with free programming aimed at getting kids outside during the summer months. For children interested in sports, arts and educational programming, City Parks Foundation is a great place to start. Earth Day marks the perfect day to walk through the program options with your children and get them excited about a summer filled with fresh air and immersion in green spaces.
Visit a Nearby Play Space: Consider visiting a neighborhood playground or local play space that is walking distance from your home! Union Square Play, for example, is holding Earth Day celebrations all month long. There's also some good news for Upper East Side parents: Union Square Play is expanding and opening a new location at 245 E. 84 St. and will serve as a play lab for kids of all ages—including babies! Doors open in early May, so check out the website for more information.
Main image: Courtesy Union Square Play