Did you know that by the year 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish? That’s a scary thought for anyone, let alone parents trying to raise responsible and environmentally conscious children. But teaching kids about the importance of reducing plastic waste doesn’t have to be a lecture or a chore. With Plastic Free July just around the corner, here are five fun and engaging ways to involve your kids in the journey towards a plastic free lifestyle. Through all of these activities, it is important to remember that perfection isn’t the goal. Small changes in lifestyles can add up to large changes over time, particularly when we build habits from childhood. Hopefully these fun plastic free activities for kids will inspire your family to continue to live more sustainably far beyond the end of the month.
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What is Plastic Free July?
Plastic Free July is a global movement hosted by Plastic Free Foundation for people to commit to reducing plastic waste. Even though July is in the title, the organization gives you the opportunity to think about the length of time and setting (work, school, home, etc.) where you will take part in the movement. There are more than 100 million participants from around the world – that is a lot of reduced plastic! You can sign up to join on the Plastic Free July website. Need inspiration to get your kids hyped up about making lifestyle changes in your household? Look no further than this list of plastic free July activities for kids.
Plastic Free July activities for kids
- Create a garden
- Host a clean up day
- Make upcycled crafts
- Conduct a waste audit
- Start a plastic free challenge
Create a Plastic Free Garden
One way to make Plastic Free July fun for kids is to create a plastic free garden. This can be an exciting and rewarding project for the whole family to enjoy. Start by choosing a sunny spot in your yard or balcony and select plants that are native to your region. Pollinator gardens are great if you are hoping to grow flowers. You can avoid using plastic pots or containers by opting for biodegradable alternatives like old egg containers or coconut coir. You can even make your own compost using kitchen scraps and yard waste to fertilize your plants.
Host a (Beach) Clean-up Day
One proud parenting moment I had recently was when I told my four year old that it was Earth Day and she immediately said “Let’s go pick up some trash!”. We grabbed our mittens and a bag and picked up debris around our neighborhood. Hosting a clean up is a great way to make a direct impact on the plastic pollution problem. Choose a local beach, waterway, or your own neighborhood and gather a group of volunteers to help collect litter and plastic debris. Encourage your kids to invite their friends and make it a fun event with (plastic-free) snacks and games. After the clean-up, take a moment to reflect on the amount of waste you found and discuss ways to reduce your own plastic consumption.
Another great way to inspire creativity and foster a sense of community is to host a clean-up day. You can challenge your kids to turn the collected plastic waste into something useful or beautiful, like a piece of art or a decoration. This sets the stage for the next activity, make upcycled crafts, where kids can get even more creative with repurposed plastic materials.
Make Upcycled Crafts
Instead of throwing away old items, encourage your kids to use their imagination to create something new and useful. They can repurpose old jars into pencil holders, turn old t-shirts into bags, or transform plastic bottles into bird feeders. The possibilities are endless! This activity is a great way to teach kids about the importance of reusing and repurposing.
Conduct a Waste Audit
Conducting a waste audit is a great way to see the change in your waste habits after implementing activities that align with Plastic-Free July’s mission. Waste audits can be as simple or as thorough as you have the time and energy for. One easy way is to set a three hour timer each day for a week. Then write down every item that you throw away, recycle, or compost during that time. For example, on Monday you might choose 7am – 10am, Tuesday 9am – 12pm, Wednesday 11 am- 2pm etc. You can do this for each member of your family and compare notes afterward. Taking chunks of time can be a nice way to incorporate younger kids into the process without it being overwhelming.
If you have older kids, they might want to keep their waste journals the whole day. By taking a closer look at your household waste, you can identify areas where you can be more sustainable. This can inspire your kids to think more critically about the items they bring into the house and the waste they produce. It can be fun to do a waste audit at the beginning and end of Plastic-Free July so that you can see your improvement over the month.
Start a Plastic Free Challenge
Next, take it a step further and start a plastic free challenge with your family. Challenge your kids to go a certain amount of time without using any single-use plastics such as shampoo bottles, plastic bags, plastic-wrapped foods, straws, or water bottles. Hint: you may need to involve them in some bulk bin or thrift store shopping. This can be a fun and competitive way to encourage the whole family to reduce their plastic usage and make a difference for the planet. You can even set up a reward system for reaching certain milestones or for the family member who comes up with the most creative plastic free solution. By making it a challenge, you can turn reducing plastic waste into a game that motivates and excites your kids.
By getting kids involved in creative and enjoyable activities, we can help them understand the importance of reducing plastic waste. Plus, they will feel inspired to contribute to a cleaner planet. From plastic free gardening to conducting a waste audit, there are plenty of fun Plastic Free July activities for kids so that your whole family can have a memorable and meaningful experience.
