Sustainability For Kids: 10 Outdoor Activities
Imagine a jar of sweets that’s always full. That’s the goal, right? No matter how much you eat, the jar just keeps on refilling – it’s sustainable, because you can keep on eating and it never runs out! But unfortunately, in the real world, our sweet jars don’t refill without a little helping hand, and we’ll soon run out of sweets – and that’s exactly how the planet works too. Much like your sweets, many of the resources we use will soon run out if we don’t learn to give a little something back. That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of 10 fun outdoor activities for kids and families to get involved in. Teaching kids about sustainability has never been easier!
1. Play outside!
It sounds too simple to be true, right? But teaching kids about sustainability is a lot easier when you’re outside. It will help to encourage them to think about the planet and start appreciating it. Whether it’s a game of tag, giant Jenga or just letting them run wild with their imagination, getting some fresh air can really open up their minds to a whole world of possibilities.
2. Plant a tree
Whether it’s a large tree or a small one, there are multiple benefits of planting trees. As well as being a great outdoor activity for kids and families, planting a tree can help to fight the climate crisis (by absorbing more carbon!), purify the air, sustain wildlife and prevent flooding. The best part? It’ll only cost around £10-15 to plant one in your back garden. Check out some of these single trees from the Woodland Trust for inspiration.
3. Collect rainwater
If you’ve got plants to water, think about collecting rainwater and saving it for a not-so-rainy day! It’ll save you from taking any extra from the tap – and it’s better for your plants as it typically has a lower pH. Better yet, it makes for a fun way to promote sustainability for kids and they can have fun collecting it too.
4. Scavenger hunt
Teaching kids about sustainability with a scavenger hunt is a great way to have a little bit of fun and get their brains working at the same time. Whether you’re staying at home in the garden or exploring a local forest, create a list of items for your little ones to identify while they’re out and about. From species of bird and types of trees to various types of wildflower, this sustainability project for kids teaches them all about the environment.
5. Make a worm farm
It might not sound too appealing, but making your own worm farm is one of the best ways to throw out the scraps from last night’s dinner. Instead of emptying your food waste into the black bin, the worm farm will work its magic. Although it does take a special worm to eat through all that waste – so don’t just go and pick out any old earthworm from the garden! The ideal worms are shorter and red, and you might be able to find them in the garden – they stay closer to the surface of the ground. Picking them out will be great fun for the kids, but you could just buy some composting worms from your local garden centre.
6. Recycling
Recycling and sustainability for kids is a great way to teach your little ones about being more sustainable. Want to make it fun? Start off by creating and labelling your own recycling bins to make it easy. Then, you could create rewards for every 10 items recycled!
7. Grow your own food
Nothing beats a fresh batch of fruit and veg! Growing your own food helps to reduce food waste and the need for extra plastic packaging. You can set up your own vegetable garden at home or score a spot at your local allotment. Either way, getting the little ones involved will certainly help to grow their green fingers.
8. Go on a green walk
In other words, go litter picking! What better way to teach your kids how to treat the planet than getting them involved in clearing up after others? It’ll help to teach them the difference between wrong and right, while also doing something good for the planet.
9. Pick your own…
As well as growing your own food, you can pick your own too! Head to a strawberry field or find a local grow your own farm to find a whole array of fresh fruit and vegetables to stock up the fridge. Not only will this be a fun day out for the family, but it’ll cut out the need for plastic packaging, you’ll be supporting local farmers and you’ll be promoting the values of ecological preservation.
10. Make wool compost
We’ve talked about disposing of your leftovers in a worm farm, but what about composting your leftover bedding? That’s right – our wool bedding is entirely compostable and sustainable. It’s the organic gardener’s best friend! Find out more about how to compost wool in our blog.
Are you on your way to being a more sustainable family? Cover all bases with kids wool bedding from Woolroom – it’s entirely sustainable, renewable, biodegradable and traceable. We’re promoting sustainability for kids at every step of the Woolroom journey.
Why is sustainability important for kids?
Children are the future of the planet. So it’s important that they know how to take care of it. Teaching kids about sustainability helps them to appreciate the environment and their relationship with it, as well as developing their knowledge and exploring new values that will one day shape them into wonderful human beings. There are many methods that can be used when teaching kids about sustainability – but we find that the hands-on approach is best.Sustainable activities for kids
Teaching kids about sustainability is key for the future of the planet, but where do you start? Little ones find it hard to pay attention at the best of times so it can be difficult to keep them interested. That’s where our sustainable activities for kids come in – a series of outdoor games, challenges and hobbies that your little ones can pick up with their newly-found green fingers! Find out how you can promote sustainability for kids at home below.1. Play outside!
It sounds too simple to be true, right? But teaching kids about sustainability is a lot easier when you’re outside. It will help to encourage them to think about the planet and start appreciating it. Whether it’s a game of tag, giant Jenga or just letting them run wild with their imagination, getting some fresh air can really open up their minds to a whole world of possibilities.
2. Plant a tree
Whether it’s a large tree or a small one, there are multiple benefits of planting trees. As well as being a great outdoor activity for kids and families, planting a tree can help to fight the climate crisis (by absorbing more carbon!), purify the air, sustain wildlife and prevent flooding. The best part? It’ll only cost around £10-15 to plant one in your back garden. Check out some of these single trees from the Woodland Trust for inspiration.
3. Collect rainwater
If you’ve got plants to water, think about collecting rainwater and saving it for a not-so-rainy day! It’ll save you from taking any extra from the tap – and it’s better for your plants as it typically has a lower pH. Better yet, it makes for a fun way to promote sustainability for kids and they can have fun collecting it too.
4. Scavenger hunt
Teaching kids about sustainability with a scavenger hunt is a great way to have a little bit of fun and get their brains working at the same time. Whether you’re staying at home in the garden or exploring a local forest, create a list of items for your little ones to identify while they’re out and about. From species of bird and types of trees to various types of wildflower, this sustainability project for kids teaches them all about the environment.
5. Make a worm farm
It might not sound too appealing, but making your own worm farm is one of the best ways to throw out the scraps from last night’s dinner. Instead of emptying your food waste into the black bin, the worm farm will work its magic. Although it does take a special worm to eat through all that waste – so don’t just go and pick out any old earthworm from the garden! The ideal worms are shorter and red, and you might be able to find them in the garden – they stay closer to the surface of the ground. Picking them out will be great fun for the kids, but you could just buy some composting worms from your local garden centre.
6. Recycling
Recycling and sustainability for kids is a great way to teach your little ones about being more sustainable. Want to make it fun? Start off by creating and labelling your own recycling bins to make it easy. Then, you could create rewards for every 10 items recycled!
7. Grow your own food
Nothing beats a fresh batch of fruit and veg! Growing your own food helps to reduce food waste and the need for extra plastic packaging. You can set up your own vegetable garden at home or score a spot at your local allotment. Either way, getting the little ones involved will certainly help to grow their green fingers.
8. Go on a green walk
In other words, go litter picking! What better way to teach your kids how to treat the planet than getting them involved in clearing up after others? It’ll help to teach them the difference between wrong and right, while also doing something good for the planet.
9. Pick your own…
As well as growing your own food, you can pick your own too! Head to a strawberry field or find a local grow your own farm to find a whole array of fresh fruit and vegetables to stock up the fridge. Not only will this be a fun day out for the family, but it’ll cut out the need for plastic packaging, you’ll be supporting local farmers and you’ll be promoting the values of ecological preservation.
10. Make wool compost
We’ve talked about disposing of your leftovers in a worm farm, but what about composting your leftover bedding? That’s right – our wool bedding is entirely compostable and sustainable. It’s the organic gardener’s best friend! Find out more about how to compost wool in our blog.
Are you on your way to being a more sustainable family? Cover all bases with kids wool bedding from Woolroom – it’s entirely sustainable, renewable, biodegradable and traceable. We’re promoting sustainability for kids at every step of the Woolroom journey.
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