It’s finally March, and that means winter is coming to an end as Mother Nature slowly makes her way back into full bloom. Aside from being the month that marks the first day of spring, March is also National Craft Month, so it’s the perfect opportunity to get your kids involved in some fun. Below, you will find five fun projects that will keep your kiddos entertained as they learn how to take care of the environment.
#1 – Rock Painting
It comes as no real surprise that children love to paint and draw, but that usually requires paper made from trees. Though sustainable options are available, they can be difficult to find. A study from the University of Southern Indiana calculated that the average American uses seven trees’ worth of paper each year, and when multiplied by the more than 350 million Americans, that’s a lot of trees. Rather than going through sheet after sheet of paper, encourage your child to paint rocks they find locally. Rocks are everywhere, and they make amazing decorations for the yard, too!
#2 – Decorating with Real Flowers
With the flowers in bloom, there’s never been a better time to teach your kids how to press flowers to create amazing works of art. Simply pluck a few flowers (or pick up a few fallen petals from the ground) and press them between two clean sheets of paper. Then, place heavy books on top and leave the flowers alone to dry for two weeks or more. At the end of the two weeks, the flowers will be ready to use for a variety of purposes, including greeting cards for family members. You could also invest in some Mod Podge and attach your dried flowers to a vase or other container to make a stunning keepsake.
#3 – Creating a Compost Bin
If you’ve been thinking of composting but you haven’t gotten around to creating your bin, there’s no time like the present! You can find numerous composting ideas on the internet, but one of the simplest is the standard holding unit, which is just a container that holds the organic matter that will later become compost. You and your children will have a lot of fun learning about what can and cannot be composted. Our biodegradable bamboo toothbrush handles are the perfect addition to your compost bin, and it’s exciting to watch the bamboo start to break down, too.
#4 – Starting an Indoor Container Garden
With so many Americans living in urban areas, finding the space to start a garden can be a real trick. However, if you have a few containers and a bit of time and patience, you and your kids can create an indoor container garden that will provide you with yummy treats all throughout the spring and summer. There are all kinds of plants that can be grown indoors, and some great starter options include hot peppers, green onions, carrots, radishes, herbs, and even potatoes!
#5 – Repurposing Household Items
If your children are a bit older and they like projects that are more challenging, you can ask them to find new ways to reduce your family’s use of plastic and disposable items by repurposing things around the house. Ask them to start thinking about some of the things they use that aren’t so good for the environment, then ask them to use items around the house and crafting supplies to create alternatives.
Spring is just around the corner, and with March being National Craft Month, it’s a great time to help your kids learn about the environment with earth-friendly projects that can reduce plastic waste and encourage sustainability. Try coming up with your own ideas, too!
