On March 28th, at 8:30 PM, we celebrate Earth Hour! There is no better opportunity to recognize Earth Hour this weekend (and Earth Day on April 22) than to spend some quality family time discussing our Earth and ways we can protect it. At isure, we believe in taking action to help preserve the planet and reduce our global footprint. Not only were we one of the first in the industry to adopt a paperless approach, but we also offer electronic policies to our insurers. Ready to learn about the environment and start making changes that will help ensure our planet’s future? Below, we have compiled a list of Earth Hour activities, resources, and community suggestions to share with your family.
1. Make A Plan For A Greener Future
Engage your family in a conversation about conservation. Generate ideas on how to conserve energy, reduce waste, and positively impact the environment at home. Create a chart that lists the duties and responsibilities each member has in the house. This could include switching off unnecessary lights, using cold water for laundry, separating recyclables, and gardening, among other measures. If everybody takes on responsibility, it will be much easier for your home to go greener!
2. Educate Yourself On The Earth
You can even watch some spectacular Emmy Award-winning documentaries, such as Our Planet, completely free on YouTube. Did we mention David Attenborough narrates it? There is a plethora of documentaries and informational videos available on the internet that are perfect for spending the day watching. Educating yourself and your loved ones is an ideal way to ensure you stay informed about leading an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
It’s another way to recycle! Offer books that your kids are too old for as a hand-me-down to younger friends. Or start a little free library in your neighbourhood. Many cities, such as Toronto, have a number of small libraries where you can drop off your books or take one home. Sharing a book is another excellent way to educate yourself on the environment without relying on electronics. Curious about little libraries in your area? Check out the Little Free Library website and look for the closest location to you!
4. Listen to Songs Or A Podcast
Check out the Earth Hour channel on Spotify. They’ve curated a playlist of nature-inspired songs. These are perfect to listen to in the background while you work around the house or do your part in going greener. These also make for a great background listen while you partake in other Earth Hour activities! Even after earth hour ends, there are a plethora of interesting podcasts on nature and related topics, such as Nature Guys!
5. Play Board Games
Play family board games by candlelight. We love the classics, such as Monopoly, Clue, and Guess Who! Board games are an excellent way of bonding with family and friends. Unplugging to spend time with family and friends can be both super rewarding and beneficial to the environment. Even beyond earth hour, it’s always recommended to take some time to unplug and enjoy some time with family and friends without the use of electronics.
6. Evening Picnic
Weather permitting, have a night-time picnic! If it ends up being a bit chilly out, prepare your food in advance and spread a blanket in the living room. Bonus points for a zero-waste cookout! Make sure to use reusable containers and cutlery, and only use food that doesn’t come in any packaging, such as bread, fruits, and vegetables.
7. Stargaze
If the weather is nice, there is no better activity to do after your picnic than to grab a telescope or binoculars and head out to see the stars! You can also bring some zero-waste snacks and hot chocolate to make the most of a wonderful night out. This is a great way to take advantage of the nicer evening weather we have been having!
8. Take An Earth Hour Tour
Explore your neighborhood in a whole new light and embark on a nighttime flashlight adventure. If you have it on hand, wear some reflective clothing to avoid any dangers! Make sure to bring a sweater in case it gets chilly!
9. Community Involvement
Being part of a community with a purpose will prompt your kids to seek out other opportunities to get involved on their own and inspire more action. Experience an Earth Hour-themed sound bath at The Anndore House in Toronto, or attend an Earth Hour painting class in the park!
10. Camp Out In Your Living Room
Pitch a tent, change into your coziest pajamas, gather the sleeping bags, and then share zero-waste snacks and tell stories! You can even purchase a portable bonfire and have some s’mores (check out City Bonfires)! This is an excellent way to bond with family and friends.
11. Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt in and around your house to mark off areas where energy can be saved. Encourage the kids to place flags or stickers in spots where appliances or computers can be unplugged, and lights turned off. Be sure to highlight the spots where they can make a difference – this will surely be one of their favourite Earth Hour activities!
12. Earth Hour Hide & Seek
Play a fun round of flashlight tag or hide and seek in the dark. The classics always win! If your home allows for it, head outside to make your hide and seek game extra adventerous.
13. Puppet Show
One of our favourite Earth Hour activities is a homemade puppet show! Make shadow puppets on a blank wall, or have a crafts day and make puppets out of old socks. This is the perfect way to create new toys without purchasing new ones and creating waste. This can be a fun activity to take part in even after Earth Hour comes to an end!
14. Plant A Seed
For this Earth Hour activity, you will need seeds, dirt, and a jar. Place seeds near a window and water them (sparingly) every few days. Kids have such pride in a plant they’ve grown from a seed. Who knows, you may enjoy it yourself and end up taking on a new gardening hobbie in the Summer!
15. Glow-In-The-Dark Party
Ask your guests to wear their favorite 80s or neon outfits and provide glow sticks and stickers. Put on some fun 80s music and dance the evening away. Not only is this a fun way to spend time with friends and family, but the lack of lights is also perfect for helping the planet.
16. Read Stories
Grab a flashlight and some blankets and tell stories in the living room or before bed. Fact or fiction, these stories in snuggly surroundings are sure to be fun for the kids.
Since young kids will likely be asleep, consider turning off your lights twice. If 8:30 pm is too late for your child, consider hosting your own “Earth Hour” with the kids from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Same benefits, AND the kids are in bed on time, which is a win-win!
Earth Hour activities & eco-friendly habits for kids
Go beyond the hour. Keeping the lights off for an hour is beneficial, but the best way to spend that time is to discuss with your family the actions you can all take after Earth Hour is over to help protect our planet. Some suggestions might be:
- Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth: Don’t waste water if you aren’t using it. Turn off the water, hum your ABCs while brushing, then turn the water back on to rinse.
- Play outside rather than watching a screen: First, play is fun. Second, you don’t need to use batteries or electricity when you play outside. Saves energy!
- Recycle and compost: Encourage kids to put recyclables in recycling boxes—re-purpose paper for crafts. Use old jars for the “Plant a Seed” activity above.
- Turn off lights when not in use: It’s an easy way to promote mindfulness and responsibility. Let the kids be the light police: “Who didn’t turn off the light in the bathroom?”
- Pick up garbage: Teaching kids that it’s everybody’s job to keep both inside and outside the home clean encourages environmental responsibility. So, get the garbage bags out, put on some gloves, and head to your local playground or beach to pick up the trash.
- Think before you print: Remind kids only to print what they need to conserve paper. If they must print for a class project or assignment, be sure to recycle unused pages or use them as scrap paper.
- Donate or volunteer: Support an environmental charity by donating to help combat the effects of climate change. You can also contact local charities and ask to volunteer. Teaching by example is the most effective way for your kids to learn.
Earth Hour Activity Websites
Looking to inspire environmental activism in your kids? Here are a few kid-friendly ‘green’ websites to educate and entertain them leading up to Earth Hour:
1. Earth Rangers
Earth Rangers, a non-profit based in Vaughn, has launched a new Eco-Activity Initiative! Visit their website for a variety of activities you can do with your family at home.
2. Pocoyo – Earth Hour
For those with younger children, earthhour.org offers a range of activities, videos, and resources featuring Pocoyo and his friends to help youngsters participate in this global movement.
3. Globe Trottin’ Kids
For Earth Hour, an activity kit has been compiled by educators to encourage kids to think critically about the many ways their daily choices impact the Earth and its ecosystems. Globe Trottin’ Kids shows how your kids can be part of the solution to reverse climate change.
Whether it’s gazing at the stars, having a game night, reading about the Earth, or crafts by candlelight, use this chance to talk to your kids about the environment. Earth Hour and Earth Day are global initiatives aimed at ensuring that the next generation will continue to work towards making our Earth stronger. Remember, don’t hesitate to contact us at isure if you have any questions regarding your insurance policy or if you’re in the market for a new one. Happy Earth Hour!
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