Step2

In honor of Earth Day on Monday April 22, 2013, Step2 contributed to the Earth Day Network’s global mosaic and the #FaceofClimateChange.

Happy Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual day where communities gather together worldwide to demonstrate support to protect the environment for plants, animals, and humans. To start off this important day and raise awareness, your family can help a global mosaic on Earthday.org.  All you have to do is upload a picture, preferably one that includes your face and a sign that says “The Face of Climate Change.” Check out what the global mosaic looks like so far at TheAdvocator.com.

In addition showing your support online, there are plenty of fun & creative ideas you can do with your kids to educate them about Earth Day. We were inspired by the ideas CreativeFamily.net , CarrotsAreOrgange.com , and B-InspiredMama.com had about this green celebration.

• Plant a Tree: If you have some room in your front or back yard, get the family together to help plant a tree! However, if you do not have the room, the National Arbor Day Foundation can plant a tree on your behalf.
• Earth Day Cookies: Create cookies that look like Earth but still taste like delicious delicacies. The kids will have a blast swirling around blue and write frosting to create the top layer on the cookie(which is meant to be the water and clouds of Earth) and then sprinkling green sprinkles (which is meant to be the land).  What a cool and yummy concept!
• Sort recyclables: Teach children about plastic, paper, and metal. This is a great sensory activity to teach children what each material feels like. Present examples of the materials such as a plastic soda bottle, a cereal box, and a can of fruit. Create and decorate different boxes for each material and have children sort through to place the correct recyclables in each box.
• Clean up the park or neighborhood: Take the kids on a nature stroll and bring plastic bags with you. While on your walk to the park or around the neighborhood, pick up any trash you see. With the trash you have collected, you and your children can sort through and put the different trash items in your decorated recyclables boxes.
• Create earth: Get crafty and let the kids create their own version of Earth. There is paint, small bouncy balls, sand, and glue involved in this activity so that means it is guaranteed fun!
• Make a family pledge: On behalf of Earth Day, have your family create a list of ways to help keep the Earth clean all year round. From recycling to picking up more trash to donating to nature organizations, there is always a way to help.

Celebrating and teaching your children about Earth Day will help them to pass the knowledge and passion about taking care of our planet to future generations. What activities do you have planned for Earth Day?

Remember how fun it was to climb trees as a kid, feeling like you were atop the world? Now as mothers, we cringe to even think about our kids at the top of that old oak tree in the back yard. Surely there’s a safe way to let our kids be adventurous and experience that same sense of exhilaration that we experienced.

Climber Toys

Climber toys offer kids ages two and older a chance to explore without the danger of extreme heights and weak branches. These sturdy outdoor play area toys are made of durable plastic and are designed with stairs and slides and places to tunnel, among other features. Your child will get plenty of opportunity to be an outdoor explorer with a climber.

Celebrating Earth Day Everyday

Climber and slide toys are also a good way to make your child aware of the environment and to learn to enjoy spending time outdoors. With childhood obesity a growing problem in the United States, finding enjoyable ways to be active are important. As the climbers are designed in earth tones to resemble trees and shrubs,  you can also use these toys as a segue to teaching your children about real live trees and how the many ways they help the environment.