So later this month many people around the globe will celebrate EARTH DAY, a celebration that is now in its 51st year.

On 22 April 1970 – the very first Earth Day - 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks and theatres to rally for environmental education, with many universities and colleges also taking part. 

Over time, Earth Day was an opportunity for environmental groups to come together with a shared voice and bring many environmental concerns onto the front page. 

As the years have passed, raising awareness of environment issues has become more and more important; the fight for a clean environment goes on alongside the realisation that climate change will affect us all.  To read more about Earth Day and how it started, click here.

Earth Day is now marked by more than one billion people every year as a day of action and a call to change human behaviour. A huge part of this is teaching our kiddies how to do the right thing - not to fill their heads with doom and gloom - but to educate them on how to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle and inspire them to care for our planet. 

Restore Our Earth

The theme for Earth Day this year is Restore Our Earth. Restoring our Earth is vital to fighting climate change and making planet Earth a safer and healthier place to live.

Part of the campaign this year is to drive home the importance of environmental education, with recent reports suggesting that climate literacy is the key to a greener future. Many activists are suggesting that climate education should become a compulsory part of the curriculum in schools across the globe.

The race is on to be as eco-friendly as we can and a huge part of this is teaching our kids how to do the right thing.

So on that note, here are some ideas to get your family involved in Earth Day. As the weather starts to improve, get outside and help your littles ones connect with nature. Show your kiddies how valuable and beautiful nature is and what exactly is at stake when we don't protect it - they are much more likely to care for something that they’ve experienced.

1. Go on a scavenger hunt

Go for your daily exercise walk and do a nature ‘scavenger hunt’. Check out these ideas from The Woodland Trust. 

2. Build a bug hotel

Build an insect hotel which is easily done by filling a small box with grass, pine cones and other similar items and leaving it in the garden. Check out this fab guide from the RSPB. 

3. Plant a tree

Or build a terrarium - an enclosed indoor environment for plants – this can be done using an old glass jar or vase. Click here for more ideas. 

4. Do some birdwatching

Back in January, thousands of people joined in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. The survey might be over but you can still look out for birds and record what you find. Check out the RSPB site for tips and tricks for identifying each species.

5. Have a sunflower competition

Plant some sunflower seeds and watch them grow… whose will grow the tallest?

6. Go on a mini beast hunt

This is a great family activity to get your little ones up close to nature and hands-on with wildlife. Here is a checklist by The Woodland Trust of all the creatures that you might discover.

7. Make a sundial

Did you know that on sunny days you can use nature to help you tell the time. All you need are rocks, paint and sticks! Check out this fantastic guide from The Wild Network.

8. Make a seed bomb

Why not enjoy some messy play and brighten up your garden with some wildflowers and make a seed bomb. Check out the Wildlife Trusts instructions here.

9. Get outside and get planting

No matter how much space you have, planting flowers and shrubs will provide a habitat for native bees, birds and other animals. Or try planting herbs, vegetables or fruit, studies have suggested that children are more likely to try food that they have grown.⠀

10. Make a poster

Reminding your household how to be more eco-friendly, this could be saving water when brushing teeth and saving energy by turning off the lights when you leave a room. Click here for some great ideas to get you started.