Does 12 weeks of summer with the kids at home sound daunting? Keep your whole family sane by teaching your kids how to become nature's newest superheroes!
We all know that boredom + heat = fighting, and that fighting turns iced-tea sipping parents into full-fledged referees, our voices imitating whistles, our gestures announcing penalties. This summer, don't don the striped jersey and wish away the hot days. Instead, take this together-time to teach your kids something they won't learn in school: how to become... (drum roll, please) ...the Green Guardians. Follow these easy strategies to help your kids have a greener summer and by the end of August you'll be wondering how the time went by so quickly!
1) Take Them Outdoors
Summer is the perfect time to get outside. Take advantage. Spending more time at nature-friendly destinations, like state parks and beaches, is always a good idea, but even your own block can provide good fodder for nature conversations. What plants, birds, and other animals are indigenous to your area? What kind of crops might have grown there in the past?
When you are outside, encourage them to make the "Green Guardian difference." Talk to them about water conservation and suggest a family project of powering up the sprinklers with conserved water from rain barrels [1]. Or, go for a walk, bringing garbage bags and washable gardening gloves to pick up trash around the neighborhood. (One word for my fellow-germophobes: Purell [2].) Remind them to ask before they lift, so they end up with candy wrappers and empty cups instead of... well, things that we don't want in our kids' hands.
By spending time helping your kids understand that nature is everywhere, you'll teach them to treat their environment with respect. Nature Reconnect [3] has some great suggestions for making the most of your outdoor time, whether you're walking around the block or planning a hike.
2) Craft with Reusable Household Items
Recycling is a kid-friendly concept, so talk to your kids about what recycling really means. Start with a feat of magic... creating their Green Guardian costumes! Use clothes they've outgrown and stitch together Green Guardian capes. Not only will they finally part with their beloved p.j.'s and old baby blankets, you can explain how reusing fabrics is better for the environment than buying new [3].
Need jewelry? Remove bristles from used toothbrushes and boil the handles for 5 minutes to make them pliable. Once soft, coil them around a drinking glass and allow them to cool into instant bangles! Next, make swords and shields by cutting leftover cardboard boxes. Wrap the shapes in duct tape for durability and a silvery shine. Do the superheroes need headquarters? The next time you receive an oversized shipping box, cut out a door and windows, and then set the kids to painting HQ.
3) Show Them Life in Action
While summer is not the best time for reviewing algebra or perfecting cursive, don't ignore the opportunity to school them in earth-friendly lessons. The more kids see, touch, and experience, the more they respect life in all its forms. Here are some ways to build their wonder. Purchase caterpillars [4], watch them cocoon and transform into beautiful butterflies for you to set free together. (Hint: Have the camera ready.) Or, if you have a little outdoor space, build a "bird hotel [5]" and keep track of your summer visitors! No room for insects or animals? Try planting a seed in a transparent glass jar [6], so they can see how the seed sends out roots first to find nutrition.
4) Tune Into Green TV
Admit it: television isn't the Wicked Witch of the West. On rainy days or those hours when you just need a break, here's how to turn it on guilt-free. Avoid "Twinkie" programming that fills the time without offering any real sustenance. Instead, tune into "Discovery Planet," "Zoboomafoo," or "Growing Up . . ." I'm amazed at the animal facts my kids can spout off. Have you heard of a flower mantis [7]? Neither had I. Let your kids soak in the knowledge and teach you something.
5) Celebrate Nature with a Summer Party
Throw a Green Guardian Graduation party at the end of summer to acknowledge all they've learned and reward them for their good green work. And when party planning, talk about making good environmental choices. Set reasonable goals, i.e, let's try to have only 2 bags of trash for the entire party. Are they worried about wasting paper products? Suggest e-vites and reusable, non-breakable dishes instead of paper invitations and plates. If you choose disposable, introduce them to Seventh Generation's line of recycled paper plates [8]. Hand out fresh flowers or reusable storage containers filled with berries instead of plastic favors. For entertainment (and a favor!), try pressing flowers together in advance [9] and at the party invite your guests to make their own bookmarks with the best nature has to offer.