Post by Keith on May 24, 2007 0:16:02 GMT -8
You can really go in an unlimited number of directions to get your children into Earth Day and make the day meaningful to your children. There is no one way to approach observing Earth Day. In a time where we're getting more natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis, wild fires, floods, and droughts, the need to appreciate Earth Day has never gotten more important. Especially in today where there's constant housing construction going on all over the country.
There are plenty of paths to go:
1. Watch the animated movie called "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest." It's a pretty old movie but it's still worth watching. Takes place in the rainforests of South America. After I watched Ferngully as a child, I've grown more appreciate of the earth and what the earth provides. For parents, this is one movie I recommend to show your children. It should spark their curiosity about the environment let alone Earth Day. The movie's about fifteen years old but still a movie still worth watching and showing.
2. Hiking and Campling. Hiking is a good way to enjoy nature. Such as taking a hike along a trail and having a picnic for lunch. At the same time, it makes for good bonding opportunities. You can do all sorts of things during a hike such as identify plants, wildlife, rocks, etc. Plus hiking is very good excercise. Camping's also a good opportunity to live in the wildnerness for a few days. You get to take a closer look at how mother nature works. Camping's good, but don't go camping in a random area. Do plenty of research on the area and the terrain first. With hiking and camping, you can do all sorts of quizzes and activities related to Earth Day.
3. Japanese Bonsai. This one takes a lot of time and dedication. My uncle has one part of his house dedicated to a bonsai garden. Planting a tree is one thing but maintaining it is a different story. Bonsai is definitely not one of those exceptions. But it's a good activity to instill the discipline of maintaining plants and trees into your children. Though it takes a lot of dedication, taking up Japanese bonsai is a good path to take in getting your kids to appreciate Earth Day.
4. Grow plants around your house or apartment. Most of it is self-explanatory. Not only do growing plants instill appreciation, it makes your home more colorful and more alive.
5. Recycle, Reuse, Recover. Those are the three Rs. Make separate recycling bins. One for paper, one for glass, one for plastics, one for metals, etc. If you have no use for the containers, put those in the bins instead of going into the regular trash can. Keep in mind that paper comes from trees and glass comes from sand. Metal is limited, it's not going to be around forever. For bottles and other containers, reuse them. You obviously find ways to use them. For example, you can create some makeshift vases after adding artwork to them. Those were the three Rs I was taught in school. With other things, you can make all sorts of artwork.
6. Grow a garden. That part is self-explanatory. It should get your kids to be appreciative. Keep in mind it takes a bit more dedication than bonsai. If you live in a more urbanized setting, why not get together and form a community garden. There are various programs available to utilize for growing a community garden. At the same time, it creates bonding amongst one another.
7. Discuss the various elements. Explain both the sciencific meaning of the elements and the philosophical meaning of the elements. Educate children in both aspects of the elements. Elements are universal in various theologies such as Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, etc. They play a vital role in any theology. I'm a martial artist and we learn the one element that dictates over all other elements is that of water. Because water is the most powerful element because it can take on any shape, size, or form. Water has the power to sustain life and to take life. That's more than reason enough to respect the elements.
8. Reading up on Eastern philosophies. This one is my personal favorite. One example is the Japanese philosophy/religion of Shinto. Those philosophies are very present in various Japanese anime and role-playing games. One example is the Final Fantasy Series, most notably Final Fantasy VII. Shinto tells us that everything has a spirit inside. Whether it's human, mammal, plant, rock, or something else, it possesses a spirit inside or a mini-god. It even says that even the earth has a spirit inside. Those are pretty good lessons to learn in life in general and not just lessons about the earth.
9. Artshow. With all the trash that you generate, why not make art of it? Not only is it creative, it's pretty profitable on your part. There's plenty of artwork created from recycled and reused products.
The possibilities are endless. These are just a few examples on making Earth Day meaningful to your children. But the only way to find the other possibilities is to go out and find them out yourself. You don't have to just appreciate the earth on Earth. Officially, Earth Day is on April 22nd but why not make everyday Earth Day. We'll grow more appreciative of the earth and learn to take care of it. I like to believe that indeed the earth has a spirit.
We learn to care about the earth, we learn to care for each other more, and vice-versa.
www.helium.com/tm/248160/really-unlimited-number-directions
There are plenty of paths to go:
1. Watch the animated movie called "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest." It's a pretty old movie but it's still worth watching. Takes place in the rainforests of South America. After I watched Ferngully as a child, I've grown more appreciate of the earth and what the earth provides. For parents, this is one movie I recommend to show your children. It should spark their curiosity about the environment let alone Earth Day. The movie's about fifteen years old but still a movie still worth watching and showing.
2. Hiking and Campling. Hiking is a good way to enjoy nature. Such as taking a hike along a trail and having a picnic for lunch. At the same time, it makes for good bonding opportunities. You can do all sorts of things during a hike such as identify plants, wildlife, rocks, etc. Plus hiking is very good excercise. Camping's also a good opportunity to live in the wildnerness for a few days. You get to take a closer look at how mother nature works. Camping's good, but don't go camping in a random area. Do plenty of research on the area and the terrain first. With hiking and camping, you can do all sorts of quizzes and activities related to Earth Day.
3. Japanese Bonsai. This one takes a lot of time and dedication. My uncle has one part of his house dedicated to a bonsai garden. Planting a tree is one thing but maintaining it is a different story. Bonsai is definitely not one of those exceptions. But it's a good activity to instill the discipline of maintaining plants and trees into your children. Though it takes a lot of dedication, taking up Japanese bonsai is a good path to take in getting your kids to appreciate Earth Day.
4. Grow plants around your house or apartment. Most of it is self-explanatory. Not only do growing plants instill appreciation, it makes your home more colorful and more alive.
5. Recycle, Reuse, Recover. Those are the three Rs. Make separate recycling bins. One for paper, one for glass, one for plastics, one for metals, etc. If you have no use for the containers, put those in the bins instead of going into the regular trash can. Keep in mind that paper comes from trees and glass comes from sand. Metal is limited, it's not going to be around forever. For bottles and other containers, reuse them. You obviously find ways to use them. For example, you can create some makeshift vases after adding artwork to them. Those were the three Rs I was taught in school. With other things, you can make all sorts of artwork.
6. Grow a garden. That part is self-explanatory. It should get your kids to be appreciative. Keep in mind it takes a bit more dedication than bonsai. If you live in a more urbanized setting, why not get together and form a community garden. There are various programs available to utilize for growing a community garden. At the same time, it creates bonding amongst one another.
7. Discuss the various elements. Explain both the sciencific meaning of the elements and the philosophical meaning of the elements. Educate children in both aspects of the elements. Elements are universal in various theologies such as Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, etc. They play a vital role in any theology. I'm a martial artist and we learn the one element that dictates over all other elements is that of water. Because water is the most powerful element because it can take on any shape, size, or form. Water has the power to sustain life and to take life. That's more than reason enough to respect the elements.
8. Reading up on Eastern philosophies. This one is my personal favorite. One example is the Japanese philosophy/religion of Shinto. Those philosophies are very present in various Japanese anime and role-playing games. One example is the Final Fantasy Series, most notably Final Fantasy VII. Shinto tells us that everything has a spirit inside. Whether it's human, mammal, plant, rock, or something else, it possesses a spirit inside or a mini-god. It even says that even the earth has a spirit inside. Those are pretty good lessons to learn in life in general and not just lessons about the earth.
9. Artshow. With all the trash that you generate, why not make art of it? Not only is it creative, it's pretty profitable on your part. There's plenty of artwork created from recycled and reused products.
The possibilities are endless. These are just a few examples on making Earth Day meaningful to your children. But the only way to find the other possibilities is to go out and find them out yourself. You don't have to just appreciate the earth on Earth. Officially, Earth Day is on April 22nd but why not make everyday Earth Day. We'll grow more appreciative of the earth and learn to take care of it. I like to believe that indeed the earth has a spirit.
We learn to care about the earth, we learn to care for each other more, and vice-versa.
www.helium.com/tm/248160/really-unlimited-number-directions