Environmentally Friendly Activities to Do with Kids

You're an environmentally friendly mama. You reuse, you recycle, you renew. Kuddos to you! Now it's time to get your kids in on the act. After all, they're the ones that are gonna be here in 70 years! Here are 4 great ways to turn your brood into budding environmentalists! Green Their Toys Constantly buying AAs for the all the song-playing, siren-blaring toys Grandma sends? (Um, thanks Mom!) Use rechargeable batteries in toys and electronics. You can also donate your gently used playthings to charity so they can be reused. Want to be environmentally friendly AND spoil your kids at the same time? Rent toys NetFlix-style, instead of buying new ones. As soon as your kids are "over" them, you can send them back for new ones. Get 'Em to Make Their Own Playdough and Paints Get earthy and mix up your own playdough, finger paints and poster paints with your kids. With just a few household items (and a couple of cheap drug- and craft-store essentials), you can make your own au naturel art supplies. Pick Up Trash in the Neighborhood Together Invite your kid to go on a trash-collecting, environment-beautifying walk around the neighborhood. Grab some gloves and a bag and help him pick up litter. Your kid is already always picking up weird garbage from the ground; why not make it an eco-friendly activity that would make Woodsy Owl proud? Do Environmentally Friendly Family Activities Make green living a family affair and plan activities that teach your kids about the environment. Make birdseed and then head to the park to feed the birds. Grow a simple egg-carton garden (no muddy fingernails involved) or make a cool bird's nest craft. Remember: The best way to teach your kids about living green is to actually live green yourself!