Earth Day: 10 Simple Ways to Invest in Our Planet
Oskar's Wooden Ark | April 22, 2022
Earth Day is a celebrated annually on the 22nd April all over the world. It is a day dedicated to appreciating our natural environment and the wonderful world we have the privilege to call our home. Each year, a new focus is assigned to Earth Day as a way of generating awareness and holding ourselves accountable for our actions and how they can effect our planet. This year's focus is "investing in our planet". If you're not sure where to start, we have 10 simple ways you can help, with the addition of a bunch of other resources for your little ones to explore!
What measures do you and your family go to for Earth Day each year, and how do you ensure you are doing your bit for our planet? Share it with us on Facebook and Instagram, making sure to tag us @oskarswoodenark and using the hashtag #oskarswoodenark.
1. Ditch the Plastic
Plastic is the predominate make up of all our landfill. With so many products made from and packaged in plastic, our planet is overwhelmed with the amount of plastic we all collectively produce.
To reduce the impact of plastic and rubbish in landfill, switch to reusable products (eg. masks, coffee cups & straws) and invest in more environmentally friendly and long-lasting products such as wooden toys for your children. Not only are they durable, but they last for decades and can be passed down to the next generation.
A small world of Bikeho Blocks & Grapat Nins | @steph.soj
2. Au Naturel
Check the packaging of products before you purchase them to ensure what you are buying is made up of strictly natural and organic materials and ingredients that won't have any long-lasting effects on you or the environment.
All of our Kitpas Art Chalk is made from completely safe and non-toxic materials such as calcium carbonate (found in toothpaste) and scallop seashells. Being able to offer sustainable products made from naturally sourced materials is one of our highest priorities when choosing what items we stock.
3. Hit the OFF Switch
In our evolving and digital world, we are consumed by all things technological and electrical. Although, it does make our lives easier in a lot of ways, it is important to take some time away from our screens and other power-hungry sources.
Swap artificial light for sunlight during the day and candlelight at night.
Make a habit of switching your phone off after dinner each night, or choose a board game over a movie for your next family night. We recommend a KAPLA building challenge!
3. Grow your own veggie garden
Purchasing fruits and vegetables from the supermarket can be a chore, so why not consider eliminating it from you weekly grocery shop by investing some time into growing your own veggie garden?
Sow 'n Sow offer a variety of affordable seeds, including the Trio of Herbs and Leafy Greens. The wonderful thing about growing your own veggies is it can be as extensive or as minimal as you wish, and children love to get involved!
4. Protect the Pollinators
Bees help the world go round, so it is important to look after them! Nearly 90% of wild plants and approximately 75% of leading global crops rely on animal pollination. Without them, it is likely that human nutrition would suffer.
To keep our buzzy friends healthy and happy, plant some Sow 'n Sow Seeds such as Wildflowers, Sunflowers or the Bug Wonderland in your garden, or even in an outdoor pot (if space is limited). Better yet, why not go the extra mile and build your very own Bee Hotel - a fun project for the whole family!
5. Fall in love with the world around you
We can often get distracted with the day-to-day tasks of life that we forget to stop and smell the roses. Spending time outside in the sunshine and breathing in some fresh air does one the world of wonders!
Spend an afternoon down by the beach, an hour of your day on a walk to someplace new, or even take your work (or toys) outside for a change of scenery. Allow yourself to become awestruck by everything Mother Nature has to offer, and really take a moment to acknowledge the beauty of her work.
7. ACTION starts with EDUCATION
"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Understanding the importance of educating ourselves, each other and our children on Earth matters is especially important for any growth and change - whether that be within ourselves or the world we live in.
Spending time to teach children about the world they are growing up in, in matters such as recycling, water wastage and pollution (just to name a few) is a great way to build awareness and introduce healthy and sustainable habits from a young age.
A look within the Earth using Kitpas Art Crayons | @_simply_bea_
BAJO Animals | @woodentoyplay
8. Meat-Free Monday
Many of the beautiful and fascinating animals that roam the Earth are endangered, with risk of becoming extinct. This is due to a number of factors, such as poaching, global warming and destruction of their natural habitats.
Putting in place a meat-free day in your home where you resort to a vegetarian diet for one or all of your meals on that day can extensively reduce just one family's overall meat consumption. If every family did this, it would have a vast impact on the demand of meat in supermarkets.
9. Plan a beach clean up
Unfortunately, litter bugs are still a very real problem in the world - especially by the beach. Rubbish ends up in our beautiful oceans which ends up polluting the marine life causing them to suffer as a result of our carelessness.
You can help by organising a beach clean up with your friends or family. The sea creatures and birds will love you for it!
10. Choose TWO wheels (or THREE)
Our cars are something that we use everyday to get to and from work, school and everything else in between. They make our lives easier, but they are one of the biggest contributors to pollution.
To reduce the amount of pollution we put out into the environment, consider trading in your four wheels for two (or three) by riding your bike to work or school one day of the week. It's great exercise, and you might save a few dollars on petrol!
We're all in this TOGETHER!
It may feel fruitless and insignificant to implement these changes in your day-to-day life in the hopes of instigating a bigger change in the world around us, but every little bit helps. For example, by investing in plastic-free, natural wooden toys, you are reducing the amount of rubbish ending up in landfill, as well as litter being distributed in our environment. If we all do our bit, then as a community, and more importantly, as a planet, we can accomplish a great deal more than we can fathom.
