Earth Month

April is Earth Month and one of the first things that comes to most people’s mind when considering Earth Month or Earth Day is the emphasis of living green and how our daily choices are impacting the earth. This special month offers parents the perfect opportunity to discuss what being “Green” actually means with their kids, and this is no small task with all the hype and commercialism that surrounds the concept of living green these days. Going Green: Beyond the Hype and Back to Basics by Michelle Pate, is a great read for families who want to change their daily life and make it “greener” but feel overwhelmed and confused by all of the conflicting information in the media. Michelle gives her readers clear and simple directions for living green when she says, “The easiest way to truly live green without falling for all of the latest trends and hype is to go back to basics and follow the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle — and in that order.”

Take time this month to discuss the 3 R’s with your kids. If you haven’t already, start incorporating the 3 R’s into your daily living routine. Some ideas for making your household a little greener are: get a recycling bin and teach your kids how to separate garbage from recyclables; take your kids to a local consignment store when you need to shop for clothing (they might be surprised at all of the cool stuff they find); start turning off the water while you brush your teeth; have the kids help turn off all electronics and lights at night; get reusable shopping bags; and finally, give your kids the opportunity to brainstorm unique ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

While incorporating the 3 R’s into your families daily life is a great way to celebrate Earth Month, there is truly no better way to instill the love for Mother Nature in your children than by getting them outside. Children need to connect to nature, and with spring here, now is the perfect time to go on nature walks and hikes and point out the beautiful sprouts pushing out of the ground, and the green buds forming on bushes. Once outside, you children will know exactly why preserving the earth by living green is such an important thing to do.