Every year on April 22nd, the world comes together to celebrate Earth Day! This is the perfect opportunity to start teaching your little ones how to love, respect, and care for the Earth. So in honor of this special time of year, we’ve created a list of our top eco-friendly parenting tips for how to teach kids about the environment in a way that’s actually fun! 

From getting more time outside to choosing plastic-free products, keep reading for easy ways to raise a little environmentalist…

Celebrate Earth Day

For many kids, Earth Day is their first exposure to sustainability and conservation. So, make sure earth day isn’t just a quick party, but a conscious celebration of the Earth, at home and out in the world. 

Use the opportunity to participate in an Earth-loving activity together! Whether it’s a beach cleanup, a trip to the recycling center, or simply watching the clouds; make a day of it each and every year, to build a tradition that they look forward to every year. 

Spend time in nature

A great way to get kids excited about the earth is to encourage them to explore it! We recommend setting aside time every week, at least once a week, to take kids outside, into nature to experience something new. 

Whether it’s a walk on the beach, a hike through the forest, or a simple picnic in the park, take time to enjoy the outdoors together and show kids how magical it can really be. When kids see the beauty of nature, they’ll be more excited to protect it.

Talk it through

Whenever you're outside, encourage kids to make observations and ask questions. Together you can talk through the many mysteries of nature. Whether it’s why the birds fly together in one direction, how bees can feed on flowers, or why plants are green, foster that innate curiosity. 

If you don’t know the answer to their questions, don’t sweat it! Be honest with your kiddo and work together to find the answer. Sometimes all it takes is a quick google search, or better yet, a trip to the library!

Get in the garden

Once kids start getting excited about nature, it’s time to help them cultivate it! That means setting up a windowsill herb garden, getting outside in your backyard, or visiting a community garden to do some digging, plant seeds, and water the earth. 

Kids can set goals for what they want to grow, explore the countless critters that thrive outside, and check back in on their impact in action! Work together to show them how to nurture and harvest their creations so they truly know where their food comes from. 

Practice small, eco-friendly habits

Life-long sustainability starts at home! That means, teaching kids to reduce waste, fix items they already own, and dispose of any trash in a responsible way. It can be as simple as integrating the following eco-friendly habits for kids:

• Turn out the lights: Initiate a “light watch” by going around the house with your kiddo to turn any lights off that no one is using 

• Turn off the faucet: Model sustainability or kids by keeping the water off when brushing teeth, scrubbing their hands (before the big rinse), and not running water excessively before a shower or bath

• Reducing, reusing, recycling, and repurposing: Make the four R’s a key part of your house rules!  

Cut out plastics where it counts

One of the easiest ways to start teaching kids to reduce waste is by rethinking the items you use everyday. It can be as simple as swapping out any plastic bottles, cups, containers, and bags and in your kitchen for plastic-free products that are made to last a lifetime.

Pura Stainless products are the ideal place to start. Not only are our bottles the only bottles on the global market that are 100% plastic-free, but they are also endlessly repurposable! Simply swap the top on any Pura bottle with any Pura lid to convert it from a nipple to a sippy, straw, and even a free-flowing big kid top! By using the same bottle from the early days into adulthood, you can teach your child that we don’t need to throw things away just because we grow.

At Pura Stainless, we believe that every day is an opportunity to nurture the next generation of environmentalists. By integrating these eco-friendly parenting tips into your family’s routines, you’re not only teaching kids to reduce waste and protect the environment, but also helping your child choose a healthier future for themself and the planet. 

To start making the switch to plastic-free products, head to our website to shop now!