I love the song The Three R’s by Jack Johnson from the Curious George CD. Of course, the three R’s refer to reduce, reuse, and recycle. This is a great message to remember and song to sing as we approach Earth Day this month.

Looking for ways to celebrate the Earth with your nieces and nephews? Check out all 10 fun and easy ideas:

Go for The Birds! If you don’t already have a bird feeder, purchase an inexpensive one, fill it with seeds, and watch the birds flock to your yard. It will be fun to see the birds eat their snacks and learn about the wildlife in your area.

Get planting! Plant a tree perhaps in your yard or a row of tulip bulbs that will bloom each spring.

Get Clean! Clean up your neighborhood or a local park. Grab a trash bag and a pair of gloves, and go out on a trash hunt. You may want to organize this activity with other aunts and their nieces and nephews in your neighborhood.

Help Out! Visit an elderly neighbor’s home, and volunteer to pull weeds, cut the grass, and water the lawn.

Plant Herbs! Plant a selection of herbs in pots to place in your windowsill, and let your nieces and nephews water and prune them when they come over and visit. If you need one of the herbs while you are cooking dinner for them, ask them to cut a few leaves to use. During the meal, ask them if they can taste what they have grown.

Get Smart!  Give examples of types of materials that can or cannot be recycled. Test your niece’s and nephew’s recycling I.Q. by having them pick out what is and what is not recyclable.

Get Dirty! Have a fun day in the dirt by letting the kids dig for worms. See what else they can unearth during their dig.
 
Let it Pour! If it happens to be raining, head outdoors sans umbrella and delight in the rain. Discuss the water cycle and why rain is such a good thing for the Earth.

Spring Clean! Do your nieces and nephews help you clean your place when they visit?  Use all natural cleaners, like lemons, to make your own squeaky clean housecleaner.  Smells fresh!

Save Water! Have them for the weekend? See who can take the fastest shower or use the least amount of bath water to get clean!  Water savings!  Better yet, track all of the water that you use in a given day and compare with one another.  How can you improve?

Earth Day is a time to come together, celebrate our great planet, and discuss how we can take care of her for generations to come. Enjoy making the significance of the day come alive for your nieces and nephews through simple activities and discussion.

Originally published on April 12, 2009