Sustainability for kids: 10 easy activities
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.”
We all share a duty to protect the environment today and for future generations. By reducing our impact on the Earth, we can preserve the valuable resources that make life possible.
Learning about sustainability is important for kids — and whether you're a parent, caregiver, or teacher, it’s easy to make it fun! Show children how they can protect the environment in ways big and small when they’re young, and they’ll grow up to be adults who appreciate nature and look for ways to reduce waste and live sustainability.
We’ve put together a list of 10 fun ways to get kids thinking about sustainability, perfect for Earth Day, America Recycles Day, or any day.
1. Involve kids in recycling at home and at school
Show children how to recycle — but first, brush up on your recycling knowledge! Research has shown that many of us follow the recycling rules we learned in childhood. Since recycling guidelines vary over time and from place to place, give yourself a quick refresher. You can look up recycling guidelines for your city using our Household Recycling Guides.
Once you’re up-to-date, get the kids involved! Tossing an empty cereal box in the recycling bin might seem mundane, but it can be an exciting responsibility for a child. Give them items to recycle, and as they get the hang of it, build their recycling knowledge by asking if something is recyclable or not. Provide a strong (and accurate) foundation and create a recycler for life.
2. Write a grocery list together and discuss how you can waste less food
Food waste is a major problem in the United States. A shocking one-third of the food produced is never eaten. Preventing food waste is a goal we can all share, and one way to start is by being mindful about the food you purchase. Show your children how to plan out meals for the week and write a grocery list. Continue the lesson by shopping together and then organizing an “eat first” shelf to prioritize the food that will go bad first.
Have leftovers? That’s another opportunity to show how to label them and incorporate them into your meal schedule.
3. Donate toys and old clothes
Childhood is a time of growth — and that leads to clothes that don’t fit and toys that no longer hold their attention. Make decluttering a learning experience! Talk to your kids about how other children will love their old clothes and toys, and get their help to put together a donation box or organize a garage sale.
Don’t stop there: take your kids to a second-hand store to find nice used clothes and toys. We love picking out new-to-us outfits at Once Upon a Child — they buy your used clothes and toys, too. Shop online with websites like ThredUp and TheRealReal, which have huge assortments of kids' clothing that can be sorted by size, material, and even your favorite brands. Or stay local by joining one of the many community giving groups you can find on Facebook.
4. Download our Kids' Zone activity book
Color, play games, and learn about recycling with our Sustainability Activity Book for kids ages 5-7.
By teaching kids about sustainability, we raise adults who are informed about their impact on the environment and will help protect the Earth for future generations. One of the easiest ways to get kids interested in sustainability is through recycling.
5. Start a fun project: composting
Some communities have introduced city-wide composting programs, making it easier to turn your food scraps into “black gold", as farmers like to call it, because compost creates such high-quality soil.
But just about anyone can compost at home — even if you live in an apartment. (If that’s the case, check out this how-to guide for composting in an apartment.) The EPA has tips for getting started with composting in your backyard. And there's also vermicompost, which involves putting food scraps and paper in a worm bin. It's one of the more fun composting methods, but it requires a little work. Maybe the cool factor the worms bring to a kid's composting routine makes it worth the effort?
6. Be a role model
Kids are always watching. Show them how to be an eco-conscious citizen through action. Pick up litter at a local park (bring gloves and a trash bag). Visit a farmers market and talk about the benefits of shopping local. When going to the grocery store, take your reusable bags. At the library, look for age-appropriate books that talk about sustainability. Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is a classic. Here are some more environmental books for kids.
7. Spend time in nature
Take a walk and enjoy the great outdoors. Talk to your kids about the plants and animal life you see. By giving your children a greater appreciation for nature, you encourage them to do more to protect it. We love to go on “wonder walks,” where we walk around and talk about the things we notice, even if it’s something as simple as a beautiful flower.
8. Read about kids who are making a difference
You’re never too young to change the world. Motivate your children by sharing stories of kids who are similar in age. Like Ryan Hickman, who visited a recycling center with his dad when he was 3 years old and was motivated to start a recycling campaign in his community in southern California. Since 2012, Hickman has collected more than 2 million cans and bottles and organized more than 400 beach cleanups. Ryan's work has been featured on television shows including the Ellen DeGeneres Show, ABC Nightly News, and the Today Show. Ask your kids how they can make a difference in your community!
9. Learn some fun recycling facts
Did you know that 92 billion pounds of paper were recycled in 2018? If you put all that paper on a scale, it would weigh about the same as 6,500,000 elephants.
How long does it take for a recycled aluminum can to be back on the shelf as a new can? Just 60 days! Aluminum cans are the most recycled drink container, and that's great news because aluminum can be recycled over and over again, infinitely.
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours, power a computer for 30 minutes, or a television for 20 minutes. For many more, check out this list of fun recycling facts from The Recycling Partnership.
10. Make it fun with this 2-minute challenge
This family-friendly recycling quiz is a fun way to challenge your recycling-age kids. Find out once and for all who really knows what's recyclable or not — you may be surprised. It's loaded with fun facts; we bet you learn something too! Take the Recycling Quiz for kids.
Not sure what can be recycled in your community? Check out Recycle by City’s Recycling Guides for recycling, donation, and local resale outlets for hundreds of items.
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