EARTH DAY 2010

Today we celebrate Earth Day but what exactly does that mean and why should we care, especially as mothers and fathers? 

Earth day is a day designed to inspire awareness of the need to protect and preserve our Mother Earth and appreciation for the environment.  After 40 years since the first Earth Day  our world is in the worst shape ever.  Now is the time to get serious about doing our part, each of us to NOT leave our footprints behind for future generations to deal with!  It’s important for our children…it’s more then important…it’s CRUCIAL!

We must all learn and educate ourselves as to how we can do our part but as “mothers” and “fathers” it’s especially important that we educate our children and teach by example.  School age children, this very day are celebrating Earth Day in their class rooms but if we don’t encourage a daily involvement at home, it won’t be real to them and therefore, just another day that they learned about in school.

 Our children look up to us for advice and guideance, we spend lots of time making sure all of their needs are met on a daily basis to ensure a good, long, happy & healthy life.  We worry about what foods they are eating, how they are doing in school, saving for their college educations, etc, etc, gosh the list just goes on and on but…ensuring they actually have a world to live in someday should be a top priority for all parents as well.

 Envirionmental Tips set forth by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)states that there are many ways we can work to reduce or elimate our footprints on the environment.

Here are some ways you can help them learn about the earth and get involved in making it a better place.

Play

• Funschool is a collection of online games and crafts that entertain while teaching children about recycling, the earth sciences and the environment.
• Primary Games is another excellent site full of Earth Day games and stories for kids.
• Environmental Kids Club Game Room is sponsored by the EPA and features games that teach about everything from air quality to the water cycle.

Read

• Earth Book for Kids is packed with great ideas for crafts, projects and experiments that encourage young children to become active participants in healing the earth.
• A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids explores climate change and what kids can do to make a difference.
• 365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School or at Play — Every Day! offers practical ideas for things kids can do each day to live ecologically friendly lives.

Watch

• Holiday Facts & Fun: Earth Day features students participating in Earth Day activities and learning about the importance of maintaining the health of our planet.
• Planet Earth — The Complete BBC Series includes all five discs of the amazing 11-part nature and wildlife documentary.
• Planet Earth — The Future reveals the vulnerability of the earth through astonishing images and the stories behind them.

Act

• Environmental Kids Clubis sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and includes lots of educational information, as well as links for middle and high schoolers who want to get involved and go green.
• Earth Day Networkis packed with information on Earth Day and provides a searchable database of events and activities around the world.
• Earth Hour Kids is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and and provides information on conservation and ideas for kids who want to take action.