3 Eco-Friendly Crafts That Are Perfect for Earth Day

Looking for a craft to celebrate Earth Day...Or just wondering how to get rid of some of your old junk? Why not do both and help ensure that your kids inherit a planet that’s just as blue and green as when you were a little child?

In this day and age, everyone’s looking for new and better ways to recycle and to be green. You dispose of your plastics and paper in the blue bin, your grass and leaves in the green bin, and everything else in the black bin. But what is this new thing we hear: upcycling?

With upcycling, you’ll be teaching your kids to respect the Earth, to appreciate material objects rather than simply disposing of them on a whim, and to stretch their creativity and innovate. It’s a cool way to teach your kids to “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” by repurposing old items for new uses.

Upcycled Crafts from Around the World

Upcycling makes a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of waste that enters the global waste stream. Plus, it requires little to no energy to actually make! Artisans from around the world create upcycled products that are sold under fairtrade standards, which helps prevent poverty and environmental degradation. Upcycling is their way of life. And ought to be ours too!

Access to resources is very limited, so people find whatever they can to create useful, beautiful items like bowls, baskets, and jewelry.

Reading for Inspiration

Inspiration can be found anywhere and in anything. There are wonderful books written about saving the environment and caring for the earth that you can read to your green-to-be little ones to get them excited about making a difference.

The Tin Forest, written by Helen Ward and illustrated by Wayne Anderson, is a unique and inspirational book about an old man living in a gloomy, scrap metal wasteland who dreams of living in a land full of sunshine, plants, and animals. In this book, there are several messages about global conservation, upcycling and recycling, written with emotional and heartfelt words.

There are tons of books out there about embracing the Earth and appreciating the environment for what is has to offer. The Lorax, written by Dr. Seuss, rings out ecological warnings of deforestation and industrialization without being preachy or pedantic. Come on, it’s Dr. Seuss – your kids will love it! With its whimsical illustrations and clever rhymes, your kids will definitely get a feel for the importance of saving our Earth.

Ready to get your green on? Take a look at these crafts to help jumpstart your mini conservationist! These Do-It-Yourself crafts are a fun way to demonstrate to kids how to reuse and recycle.

Desktop Planters

Give your old glass bottles new life with this upcycling craft from Homemade Modern. Not only will you have repurposed old junk, but with these new homes for plants you’ll also liven up your home with greenery.

Tin Can Lanterns

This easy, eco-friendly craft upcycles your old tin cans adorable outdoor lighting. Grow Creative has an easy-to-follow tutorial that will not only repurpose your cans, but also help you save electricity with cozy lighting for your backyard hangs.

LEGO Bird Feeders

With LEGOs as the #1 birthday gift these days, those bricks really do pile up. Put your kids’ building skills to the test and upcycle extra pieces into unique bird feeders. Wild About Here offers up some pretty impressive inspiration, as well as some fun-to-make bird feed recipes.

What are some of your favorite activities to teach kids to go green?