20 Fun Earth Day Activities For Kids!

Earth Day might come once a year, but we should really celebrate Mother Earth all year round. Here are 20 fun things to do with kids for Earth Day during Earth Month or anytime!

I love a good themed activity or event. You aren’t surprised by this is you follow us on Instagram. If you do too, check out our Pumpkin Party and Galentine’s Day Party!

Celebrating holidays, no matter how big or small, with kids is SO fun to me. Plus, it’s almost easier to entertain them when there is a set “theme” for the day or week.

Here are 20 fun ways to celebrate Earth Day with your kiddos at home or in your local community.

Fun Earth Month Crafts

We have an embarrassing amount of craft items in our house. I finally have a good system for them so they aren’t as overwhelming. One of those tips is to have a “theme” for the week… like Earth Week!

Here are five fun crafts to help you and your kiddo celebrate our lovely Earth and have some meaningful discussions.

1. Earth Day DIY Play Dough Kit. I am OBSESSED with these. They are so easy to make and you probably have everything on hand already!
2. Paper Plate Flower Garden. This Earth Day craft is fun and has several steps for your kiddo to do to use some fine motor skills. Plus, you can have a good discussion on how flowers grow.
3. Paint a Planter + Plant Some Flowers. I really aspire to have a green thumb so I’m trying to instill it in Olivia too! Pick up a clay planter, grab some paint and go to town! Have your kiddo pick out their own seeds and then plant them and wait for them to beautify your patio or porch.
4. Build a Birdhouse. You can get as intense or as basic as you want with this one! We’ve picked up the small little birdhouse crafts from places like Target and pretty small but you can paint them too. You can also get a legitimate birdhouse (like this one) to make a home for our winged friends.
5. Make a Bee Craft. Bees are so important for our environment and kids can be easily scared of them. Making some bee crafts (like this list of 34!) is a way to explain why we need pollinators and how they are helpful to the world. Pair with the Bee Movie for something light hearted and funny.

Earth Day in the Community

If it was a normal year (thanks, pandemic), we would be sharing all the fun Earth Day events happening in Columbus. But, I think we’ve all adapted to come up with fun things we can still do outside of the house!

1. Scavenger Hunt at Your Favorite Park. We are lucky to have some amazing Metro Parks in Columbus. Whether you have big parks, a big field to run it, or a green space in the middle of downtown, this is a fun activity! This one from Melissa & Doug actually has indoor AND outdoor cards in case the weather isn’t cooperating.
2. Pick Up Litter. We did this summer and every time we go outside, Olivia says “Mom, someone littered, let’s clean it up!”
3. Service Project. This link is specific to Columbus, but I’m sure there is a similar organization in your community! We will be heading to a Seeds with Caring event that has 6 “Earth Day” themed activities including litter cleanup and an Earth Day social action craft.
4. Visit or Volunteer at a Community Garden. Every city or town has a community garden! Depending on the age of your kids, you could either visit or volunteer at one in your community. For my Columbus friends, Franklinton Farms is a great one!
5. Schedule a Visit to Your Local Landfill. This might not be an option depending on your local COVID-19 precautions. But, I highly suggesting visiting your local landfill and/or recycling center to really see the impact our trash has right in our communities. For Columbus friends, here is the info for RUMPKE. Pair this idea with the movie WALL-E!

Our Favorite Sustainability Books

Bonus points for sustainability if you get these books from your local library! These are five books we picked up to have conversations about sustainability anyhow to celebrate Earth Month.

1. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. You could even pair this one with the movie!
2. What If Everyone Did That?
3. Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration.
4. I Can Save The Earth!
5. Compost Stew.

Delicious Earth Day Snacks

It wouldn’t be a celebration without some delicious snacks! These 5 Earth Day recipes are simple to make and something your kids will love.

1. Dirt Pudding. I mean, this one is obvious, right?! You can’t have Earth Day without dirt pudding! You can use this recipe, just swap for gummy worms instead of Halloween themed items.
2. Mango Guacamole. Not only is this a veggie friendly recipe which is perfect for Earth Day, you can talk about the difference between organic and non organic vegetables and fruits.
3. Chocolate Covered Oreos. Not only are these delicious, you can decorate accordingly for Earth Day! You can use white chocolate to dip then top with blue and green sprinkles to represent the Earth. Or use butterfly and bee candy toppers to celebrate pollinators!
4. Veggie Pizza. Not only is this delicious, it’s a great way to enjoy lots of veggies! You could also pick one of the veggies on the pizza and plant those in your garden at home. Bonus points if you plant the seeds from the bell peppers on your pizza!
5. Anything with Green Onions. Make any recipe with green onions because then you can regrow them! Use this post to learn how to use the green onion bulbs to regrow them instead of tossing them.