Earth Day 2022

7 WAYS TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH YOUR KIDS

On April 22nd, Earth Day marks its 52nd anniversary as climate change continues to dominate headlines around the world. More than one billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

This year’s theme, Invest In Our Planet, focuses on stepping up solutions to combat climate change and encouraging governments, businesses and ordinary citizens to do their part.

Here are 7 ideas to help your kids learn about the world around them and why Earth Day is important:

1. Go for a walk through a local park and get to know the birds and wildlife, insects and bugs, trees and plants in your neighbourhood. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

1. Pick up trash around your neighbourhood (be sure to use protective gloves!) You can also join an organized event in your community – visit https://www.earthday.org/campaign/cleanup/ to find a clean-up happening near you.

1. Teach your kids about recycling. Make a game of it: gather a selection of items and ask your kids to guess which ones can be recycled and to pick the correct bin to put them in.

1. Plant a tree, wildflowers or native plants. Trees help produce oxygen and filter out pollutants to clean the air, while native plants provide insects and birds with food and shelter.

1. Shut off the television and the computer and go offline for some “unplugged play” – which we believe is the best kind of play!

1. Read a book about the wonders of Planet Earth. Here are a couple of excellent selections for kids 5 years and up (and you’ll find more on our website).

Magic School Bus Presents: Wild Weather (Scholastic) - Ms. Frizzle and her class are in for an exciting ride as they track wild weather and learn about our changing climate.

Children’s Atlas of the World (Scholastic Canada) – This reference book is packed with information about the world’s places, people and wildlife, and also introduces global topics such as climate, conservation and the environment.

1. For younger kids, try a puzzle to help them learn about animals and plants, for example:

Giraffe Puzzle (Plan Toys) – This adorable giraffe family is not only colourful, it’s also eco-friendly, made from surplus sawdust. Perfect for free play and storytelling. Also available: Elephant Puzzle.

Flower Puzzle (Thinkamajigs) – A fun puzzle activity for toddlers and elementary-level children, it can also be used to introduce the subject of botany.

These are just a few of the wide selection of animal and nature puzzles available - click here to see more!

Thinkamajigs believes in being environmentally conscious and we’ve implemented a number of initiatives to help reduce our impact on the environment, including:

• Using packing fill made of 100% biodegradable cornstarch
• Using boxes that contain recycled materials and which are recyclable
• Switching to a digital, interactive catalogue to save paper
• Choosing brand partners who are environmental champions, such as Plan Toys, Green Tones, Hape, and HABA
• Reducing, reusing and recycling packaging as much as possible

To find out more about us and our wide range of Montessori teaching materials and educational toys, contact us at 1-800-363-3013 or by clicking here.