Do something good for the planet on Earth Day. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

It is close to that time of year to remember the Earth for a day – yes, it’s Earth Day on April 22.  Earth Day 2010, and indeed every Earth Day, is a good time to remember that we all should be good custodians to the environment.  After all, our children inherit what we leave behind, and I certainly don’t want my legacy to be litter.  There are also some great Earth Day Activities for Kids, if you want to include the little ones.  Plenty of things you can do are incredibly cost-effective, so doing something for Earth Day won’t make need debt relief.

Earth Day began April 22, 1970

The very first Earth Day was a teach-in.  Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) started speaking at rallies for more attention to be called to environmental issues in the fall of 1969.  He put the idea forward for a nationwide grassroots effort for better environmental practices, and thanks to great media coverage, it picked up an incredible amount of steam.  On April 22, 1970, colleges and universities had environmental demonstrations and protests, along with many other organizations.  Over 20 million people participated, and Earth Day and Earth Week were born.  It expanded from there, and now Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in many countries worldwide.

So what should I do?

There are plenty of activities that will properly commemorate Earth Day 2010.  Take grass clippings, leaves and so forth, and start a compost pile.  Plant a tree; not only do they spruce up a yard, they can add to property value.  (Check out the Arbor Day Foundation for more on that.) You can also do some recycling.  Depending on the policies in your area, you might be able to get some quick cash for certain materials, such as aluminum.  One couple made national headlines for their project Wedding Cans, paying for their wedding by recycling cans.

The EPA expands on Earth Day

The website for the Environmental Protection Agency has some activities in mind.  They suggest people Pick 5 for the Environment, and list activities one can do to conserve water, air, power and waste, as well as advocacy activities.  Going to the EPA website will give you some tips on conservation.

In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is considered "the world tree." (Photo: ThinkStock)

Earth Day AND activities for kids? That’s a win-win situation for environmentalist parents. But for kids to truly appreciate the fun that can be had on Earth Day (April 22), it helps if mom and dad understand where Earth Day comes from and what it’s about. According to USA Today, this is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. Back in 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was an environmentalist at heart, proposed that April 22 be set aside as a day to honor the planet and efforts to protect its precious resources. The idea caught on, and later that year, Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to police environmental pollution.

Earth Day activities for kids should be achievable

Earth Day activities for kids should mirror the call the EPA has issued to all Americans to commit to five actions that will keep our environment safe. Whether one of yours is applying for payday loans online rather than creating paperwork in a store is up to you.  Five actions may not seem like much at first, but think about what would happen if everyone followed their five actions diligently. The world would be a cleaner place, for Earth Day and every other day. It’s easier to focus on a few actions rather than a long list, which makes similarly targeted Earth Day activities for kids much less overwhelming. It also makes it much cheaper for parents, to the point that low interest loans are unnecessary.

Speaking of activities, here are your five actions for the kids

Thanks to Main Street, here are your “five actions,” your Earth Day activities for kids:

1. Sort recyclables. Ideally, you live in an area with curbside recycling pickup. Even if you don’t, there are likely places where you can take your recycling products. Separate plastic bottles from aluminum cans and show kids the recycling symbols on the bottom so they know what it means to be green. Teach them young so that it becomes a way of life — not a sometimes project.
2. Don’t throw away jars. Glass or plastic, those jars can be used to hold pencils, your favorite beverage, flowers, pennies, small toys or even that kind of sticky goo kids get out of vending machines. Kids can even decorate the jars!
3. Join the energy patrol. At home, at school or anywhere else, saving water and electricity go a long way toward saving the environment and saving money. Formulating good ideas is great to include in your Earth Day activities for kids.
4. Spring cleaning – make it a game! Cleaning up the house and garage doesn’t sound like fun at first, but if you challenge your kids to find new ways to use old products, it gets them more involved and thinking green. Here are some ideas to get kids started with household recycling, courtesy of the UK site Recycle This.
5. Make an Earth Day crossword. If your child loves solving puzzles, make an Earth Day activities for kids-themed crossword to help them flex their language muscles. Or use this one, courtesy of the EPA.

Have a Happy Earth Day on April 22!

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