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Earth Day is a great time to teach children the importance of protecting our environment, and to get the involved in caring for our planet. With a few fun, simple activities, you can show your children the meaning of Earth Day while spending some quality family time together.

* Plant a tree. Your local nursery will be able to help you select the right sapling, and you can ask any questions you need about how to help it grow. You will of course need to help your children with the process of planting a tree, but get the children involved as much as possible.

* Make a vegetable garden.
Section off a portion of your yard that gets good sunlight, take up the grass, prepare the soil, and plant some veggies that your family will enjoy. Your local nursery can help you choose plants that will thrive in your area, and will give you all the information you need to make your garden a success. If you have limited space, or simply don't want to tear up a section of your yard, you can create a square-foot box garden with some scrap lumber and some fertile soil.

* Pick up litter around the neighborhood. Give each person a pair of sturdy rubber gloves and a strong bag. (Smaller children will probably have more success with a grocery-store bag, but older kids can use a standard trash bag.) Take extra bags along with you. As the bags get filled, tie them shut and place them near a trash-pickup site. You get bonus points if you separate the recyclable litter and take it to the recycling center!

* Contact your local recycling center to see if you can arrange a tour of the facility. Use this opportunity to discuss the importance of recycling and the impact that trash has on our planet.

* Make a simple bird feeder with a pinecone or other natural objects. Spread the pinecone with a thick layer of peanut butter, and then smash some birdseed into the peanut butter. Hang the bird feeder from a tree, and watch the feast begin!

* Make a cool badge and assign your child to be the "energy police" for the day. Responsibilities of "energy police" include making sure all lights are turned off when they're not needed, making sure that no faucets are left running, and directing fun activities for the family that don't require electricity.

The most important part about celebrating Earth Day with your kids is to make it fun and interesting.
Use this opportunity to educate your children about the importance of preserving the environment, but keep it lighthearted and fun.

Learn more about this author, Amy Weekley.
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