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Circle Time: Caring For Earth

Circle Time: Caring For Earth

Circle Time: Caring For Earth

PlanToys Circle Time: Caring for Earth

What You Can Do To Make the World a Better Place 

Welcome to another day of PlanToys Circle Time! This series acts as a virtual session of in-school Circle Time, where children and teachers participate in a guided discussion.
The subject of today's Circle Time session is caring for Earth. To celebrate Earth Month, we're sharing tips and inspiration on how children and their families can participate in a better world.

 

How To Get Children Involved

 

Changing and world can seem like a monumental task! It's important to remember that all humans on Earth play a role in its health and happiness. Find ways that you can do your part to contribute to the planet's well-being and inspire others to do the same.

Children enjoy helping and finding ways in which they can discover their independence. By having children actively participate in a better world, they'll develop their independence, self-confidence and start healthy habits at an early age. 

Work together to create a list that includes daily tasks and larger goals that you can accomplish independently, and as a family. Consider the following when making your list:

  • What are your family's sustainable goals at home and on a larger scale?
  • How can you combine sustainability with your daily activities?
  • How can you keep everyone in your home invested in long-term goals?
  • What is a fun, sustainable-minded activity that everyone will enjoy? 

Start at Home

 

Transform your plans into action! You can make impactful changes to the planet by starting small at home. Sometimes it could help to leave ourselves or others a friendly reminder.

Conserve Water
  • Don't leave the water running when not in use.
  • Consider switching to a low-flow showerhead.
  • Frequently check for leaks.
  • Take shorter showers.
Conserve Energy
  • Turn off lights when not in use.
  • Reduce your use of 'energy hungry' appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers, and dryers account for the top percentage of energy bills due to their use of hot water.
Reduce & Recycle
  • Flatten cardboard and wash out containers properly to prepare them for recycling.
  • Ensure your recycling is loose and in marked recycling containers. Refrain from using plastic bags to contain recycling.
  • Use reusable containers and water bottles to reduce waste.
Inspire Others At Home
  • Show your enthusiasm and encourage others to follow along by explaining the benefits of change.
  • If something is important to you, your loved ones will be inclined to join in and show their support.

 

Need a little more guidance of where to get started? Click here to calculate your carbon footprint.

 

Form a Sustainable Community

Litter is a threat to our environment, wildlife, and people. When litter is not disposed of properly, it travels to forests and oceans, making it more difficult to remove.

Recruit friends, family, and community members to help you make a difference on a larger scale. Litter clean-ups are a great way to bring people together while making the community a safe and more beautiful place for everyone to enjoy - for wildlife especially.

How To Organize a Cleanup:
  • Decide on a location, date, and time.
  • If you're hosting a larger event, (50+ volunteers) ensure have permission from the county to host your cleanup and that you're well informed on all safety regulations.
  • Announce your mission! Post on social media and reach out to your contacts directly to let them know all the details of the cleanup. Encourage them to continue to spread the word.

Click here to read more about hosting a beach cleanup, including everything you'll need to know about the proper disposal of trash.

 

Develop a Lasting Plan

One of the most meaningful changes you can make is to rethink your approach to consumerism, especially for clothing and toys.

Clothing:

The average US consumer disposes of 81.5 pounds of clothes yearly, totaling an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste. Clothing becomes unwanted of for various reasons: a change of fit, style, or interests, with many being worn little to not at all. Only 12% of clothes are recycled due to the inconsistency and nature of the materials.

Plastic Toys:

Statistics show that children will play with a single toy for a maximum of 6 months. The toy industry alone produces 40 tons of plastic toys. Approximately 90% of the toys in the US are composed of plastic. 80% of these toys end up in landfills due to a lack of interest from children as they age. 

Shop With Sustainable-minded Companies
  • Do your research and shop with companies that practice sustainable manufacturing and give back to the community.
  • Reach out and ask questions if needed.
Purchase With Intention
  • Select items that will have a lasting impact in your life.
  • Consider wooden toys. A wooden toy lasts for approximately 40 years when cared for properly.
  • Select clothing items made from quality materials and can be worn countless times.
  • Avoid trends and only bring items in your home that you love and that are true to you.
Host A Yard Sale or Clothing Swap
  • Host a yard sale or organize a clothing swap in your community, at school or at work. This helps rehome items and keep them out of landfills.
  • Consider selling items online if you can't host a yard sale in your area or during colder/hotter months.
Trade In Gently Used Toys & Shop Secondhand
  • Did you know you can trade in your gently used toys for cash or toy credit with ToyCycle? Give it a try!
Join a Toy Rental Subscription
  • Renting toys is a great way to reduce toy waste and keep toys in your child's play routine that are most relevant to their age and developmental stage. It also helps reduce clutter.
  • Learn more about toy rentals and how to subscribe at Tiny Earth Toys.
Rehome and Inspire
  • Gift your gently used toys to another family to enjoy once they've been outgrown. PlanToys PlayCycle makes it easy to rehome your toys and inspire other families.

 

We hope this information has inspired you to do your part in creating a better world for your generation, and many generations to come! The Earth is our ultimate home. Let's shower her with as much love as we possibly can! 

Helpful resources:

BeachCleanUp CarbonFootprint CaringForEarth ConserveEnergy ConserveWater Earth EarthDay EarthMonth EarthWeek PlanetEarth PlanToys PlanToysCircleTime ShopSmart Sustainable SustainableLiving