These adorable Thanksgiving craft ideas are the perfect way to keep little hands busy
Wondering how to keep the kids at the table this year? These super-simple ideas are great activities, and they don’t take a lot of pre-planning to get done. So forget about those generic-looking store-bought turkeys in Pilgrim hats, and check out our favorite Thanksgiving crafts that’ll keep the kids occupied. If you need even more ways to keep the kids busy, check out these Thanksgiving games and activities!
Try out these turkey puppets that can double as decor! Make them small or large so they can sit on top of the table as adorable decorations.
Glitter Pumpkins
Add sparkle to the table with this easy Thanksgiving craft. Grab a few gourds or small-sized pumpkins, and let the kiddos paint them with glue. To make this Thanksgiving craft idea even better, let the glue drip down the sides of the gourds/pumpkins. Sprinkle sparkles on top, shake off the excess, and let the tabletop displays dry before adding them as cool centerpieces. The best part is that you can completely customize this for any table. Choose glitter colors that match your place settings to create a cohesive look.
Sure, a basket of random gourds makes for a rustically chic centerpiece. But stacking pumpkins on top of various forms of squash isn't always the most creative way for your kiddo to spend Thanksgiving day. Instead, make your own with this pumpkin craft from Fireflies and Mud Pies!
Sometimes sitting at the dinner table and patiently waiting for the grown-ups to finish just isn't fun for your tot. Scratch that, it's never fun for your tot. Well, this turkey-shaped fluffy slime idea from Little Bins for Little Hands solves the "Mommmmmmy, I'm sooooo bored" problem. Package this recipe into a cute little see-through cup to create cute holiday decor. As the kids finish eating, they can take the slime out and play with it—giving you time to eat your meal!
What is your family thankful for? Instead of waiting until dinner to ponder this question, start early in the day (heck, start the day before). Give each family member a leaf to write what they're thankful for. You can either have the kiddos craft paper leaves from fall-colored card stock or go with the real deal. Get extra crafty and ask the kids to paint their leaves before adding what they're thankful for in marker. Gather a few sticks, and push them into a foam base or secure them in a tall vase. Before the meal starts, collect the thankful leaves. Punch holes in the top and thread the yarn through them. During the holiday meal, each family member/guest can read what they're thankful for and hang the leaves on the "tree."
You'll get to recycle and reuse paper towel cardboard tubes with this Thanksgiving craft idea. Cut them into pieces, and let the kids get to work painting them into cute little napkin rings. Want other ideas? Mini Monets and Mommies has plenty of other ways to transform cardboard into Thanksgiving table décor.
Yeah, kids are all about popsicles. Even in November. So put those sticks to use for this adorable table-top craft from The Nerd’s Wife. This recycle-and-reuse art activity is just as Earth-friendly as it is adorable!
The kids can create crafty placemats that show exactly what they’re thankful for. Mama Papa Bubba’s printable design provides plenty of opportunities for thinking about the holiday while getting creative and coloring.
The kids need something to do at the Thanksgiving table. Of course, other than eating the fab feast that you’ve spent the day preparing. Cut shapes out of felt (you’ll need circles and ovals), add a few googly eyes, and let the kids go to town, pressing together the felt turkey table toppers. They can puzzle together this project at the table or make them beforehand as place cards.
Gobble Gobble Tablecloth
Nikki Walsh
Your grandma’s hand-sewn lace tablecloth is gorgeous. Just not with gravy and cranberry sauce on it. Pull double duty protecting the table and entertaining the kids with this turkey-time tablecloth. Spread out butcher paper, draw a few gobble gobblers, and let the kids get crafty with their crayons during dinner.
Who says pumpkins are just for Halloween? Turkey up your mini pumpkins with this idea from Toddler Approved. Table perk: they're perfect placeholders for the kiddos!
What is your child thankful for? Learning about gratitude is kind of the name of the game on Thanksgiving Day. And your child thought the holiday was all about turkey and stuffing. Things are about to change with this crafty laminated placemat from Momtastic. It’s much more than simple holiday décor—it’s a thoughtful activity that will help the kids think about why they should give thanks today!
You need a Thanksgiving table idea. So you pile on the gourds to add that decorative touch. But wait. Why not let the kids get creative and dress up those plain ol’ gourds? Design Improvised can show you how to turn gourds into adorable little turkeys.
Calling all LEGO lovers! Add this fun preschool Thanksgiving table idea to your art repertoire. We guarantee you already have all the supplies you need around the house. The simple steps are perfect for younger ages, plus you get a sweet keepsake of their tiny hands through the years. For the how-to details, visit Little Bins for Little Hands.
From April 16-29, shoppers can drop off their old car seats in designated drop-off boxes located near Guest Services at most Target stores (in-store drop-offs only!). In exchange, you’ll get a coupon to use through the Target app or target.com/circle for 20% off one new car seat, stroller, or select baby gear, such as play yards, high chairs, swings, rockers and bouncers that can be used both in-store and online.
Target
Target will accept and recycle all types of car seats, including infant seats, convertible seats, car seat bases, harness or booster car seats, and even car seats that are expired or damaged. Not only do you get a great deal on a new item, but you’re also helping to create less waste as Target’s partner, Waste Management, will recycle materials from your old car seats.
Additionally, you’ll be ensuring that other parents are not buying second-hand car seats that could be well past their expiration date or damaged from an accident from online marketplaces.
Since the program began in 2016, over 2.19 million car seats and 32.9 million pounds of car seat materials would otherwise end up in a landfill. The bi-annual event is part of Target’s larger initiative, Target Forward, which seeks to eliminate waste and enhance sustainability practices.
So if you’ve got that old car seat sitting around that isn’t accepted through your own curbside pickup or has expired, head for the Target car seat trade-in event starting Apr. 16. The environment will thank you.
Everything you need to know about Christmas tree pick up service, recycling your tree and even recycling those Christmas tree lights
It was a holly, jolly Christmas admiring your perfect pine, but now it’s time to give back to Mother Nature and recycle your Christmas tree. It’s super easy to be green by recycling your Christmas tree to help aid the growth of new plants. Read on for the details on how to best bid farewell to your fir via Christmas tree recycling. We even tell you how to recycle your Christmas lights.
What You Need to Know Before You Recycle Your Tree
First, prepare your real Christmas tree for recycling by removing all lights, tinsel, ornaments, garland, nails, wire, the tree stand and any additional decorations or non-organic materials. Basically, your tree should be as bare as if it was still in the forest.
Good to Know: Flocked trees (with fake snow) are accepted for recycling through the city of San Diego, but artificial trees may not be recycled.
Christmas Tree Pick Up: Curbside Collection Service
If you’re a San Diego County resident with yard waste collection service, you can have your tree picked up on your designated yard waste collection day. Be sure to cut trees that are over four feet long in half, or cut as much as necessary so your tree fits into your recycling container.
Note: don’t use paper or plastic bags to contain your yard waste/tree because the bags contaminate the mulch and compost that’s made from recycling this greenery.
You may also see below on where to haul your tree directly to Miramar Greenery for recycling.
Mr. Jingle's Christmas Tree Removal Service
Mr. Jingle's offers a tree removal service wherein they'll come to your house, remove the water from your tree, take your tree to be recycled and even vacuum inside before they go. Just make sure you've removed all of the ornaments and lights from your tree before they arrive.
Check with your local Boy Scout troop to see if they’re offering curbside pick-up to recycle Christmas trees in their vicinity. Many troops will ask for a small donation $5-$10 to pick-up your tree in front of your house and you simply leave the donation in an envelope attached to the tree.
Where to Take Your Christmas Tree to Be Recycled
From Dec. 26-Jan. 23 San Diego city residents only can take Christmas trees to be recycled (during daylight hours only) at the following locations:
Carmel Valley: Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Dr., lower parking lot
Encanto: Cielo Dr. at Woodman St.
Golden Hill: Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Dr.
La Jolla: Kate Sessions Memorial Park, Mt. Soledad Rd.
Logan Heights: Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Ave.
Miramar: Miramar Landfill & Greenery Recycling,Convoy St. (north of state Route 52)
Mission Bay: Sea World Dr. at Pacific Hwy.
Mountain View: Ocean View Blvd. at 40th St. (north side)
Oak Park: Chollas Lake, 6350 College Grove Dr., in Gloria’s Mesa parking lot
Ocean Beach: Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St.
Otay Mesa/Nestor: Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower parking lot on the southeast corner of Palm Ave. & Beyer Blvd.)
Rancho Bernardo: Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 W. Bernardo Dr.
Rancho Penasquitos: Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Rd.
San Diego State University: Parking Lot 17C off Alvarado Rd.
Scripps Ranch: Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Dr.
Tierrasanta: Tierrasanta Community Park, pool parking lot, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
University City: Standley Community Park, parking lot, 3585 Governor Dr.
After Jan. 23rd you can recycle your tree and other household greens at Miramar Greenery, where trees are accepted throughout the year. The facility accepts regular trees and flocked trees at the following location:
Miramar Greenery (inside the Miramar Landfill, North of state Route 52) 5180 Convoy St. San Diego
The City of Escondido also offers two drop-off locations for tree recycling and curbside tree pick-up with your regular greens collection Dec 26.-Jan 11.
Look for the signs at each drop-off location and place your tree in the large recycling containers provided.
Kit Carson Park: 3333 Bear Valley Parkway, South entrance, first parking lot on right, across from adult softball complex
Jesmond Dene Park: 2401 North Broadway, parking lot next to ball fields
How to Recycle or Donate Your Christmas Lights
Visit Waste Free San Diego and enter your zip code to see where you can donate or recycle holiday lights you no longer want. Enter the term “Christmas lights” in the find an item section to begin your search.
You may also visit HolidayLEDS online to take part in their Christmas light recycling program. Simply ship them your lights anytime, year round, and they’ll email you a coupon to use at HolidayLEDs.com for LED Christmas lights once they receive your shipment and you complete the short Christmas light recycling form.
Sweep up those needles one last time! We’ve got your Portland tree-cycling options outlined here
Even though the season has come and gone, the spirit of gratitude and giving is still with us. So this year we’re taking the famous Marie Kondo’s approach to getting rid of our trees by first thanking it for the joy it brought us and then properly recycling it. Curious about Christmas tree recycling in Portland? Check out the four easiest ways to repurpose and recycle your tree along with pro-tips on Christmas tree recycling locally.
Recycling Your Christmas Tree in Portland: Where to Start
If you are interested in recycling your Christmas tree in Portland, the following are four ways to get the job done.
1. Recycle it at home with your curbside or yard debris collection service. 2. Recycle it through a nonprofit. 3. Take it to a recycling center. 4. Repurpose it in your own backyard.
Pro Tree-cycle Tip: Prep your tree for recycling by stripping it of all ornaments and lights. Most trees are turned into wood chips, and these items may damage the chipping machine. If you have a flocked or artificially-colored tree, check our listings below, as not all recyclers accept these.
1. Curbside or Yard Debris Christmas Tree Collection Service
One of the easiest options for Christmas tree recycling is your area’s waste collection team on a regular pick-up day. Where you live depends on how to prep, where you can put it, and what they’ll take. Generally, trees that are cut up and fit completely inside the curbside compost roll cart are good to go. Whole trees can be placed next to the composting cart, however, there may be a charge. If a tree is over 6 feet, it must be cut in half. For details, call your local solid waste and recycling office. Flocked trees are not accepted for recycling curbside.
Insider Tip: Make sure to not overfill or stuff down the tree material.
For a small donation, Boy Scout Troop 150 (and others in your area) will collect Christmas trees and wreaths for recycling. You can also drop them off a the designated spot. Register your address, and number of trees, and make a donation at the link below. You’ll be doing something good for the planet and helping these scouts earn badges throughout the year.
Requirements may vary and fees may apply, and we found just the resources to help. Have questions about these options? Reach out to Portland Metro or search for recycling centers online. This site offers a recycle center name, distance from your entered location, and if they pick up and or drop off.
If you’re not up for curbside or drop-off options, consider these intentional backyard alternatives. The American Forest Society has some great ideas for putting your tree to good use in your own yard, from a bird feeder to coasters.
Have a few strands of holiday lights that aren’t working? Or maybe you consolidated your working lights this year? There are different ways to get them off your hands in an environmentally friendly way.
Make someone else's Christmas bright next year by donating your lights to Goodwill or other donation centers.
String lights can be recycled for the copper inside them at your local recycling center (just make sure you don't put them in your home bin). Many centers, like Metro’s, will take them free of charge.
Hardware and home-improvement stores generally accept Christmas lights for recycling and even for coupons or other incentives. Bigger stores encourage donors to opt for LEDs by offering to take incandescent lights. Just swing by the customer service counter to learn more.
Dedicated to reducing waste, the folks at Ridwell will pick up your holiday lights and recycle the electronic bits and the glass as well for those who subscribe to this additional Portland recycling service. Check out Ridwell for all sorts of other recycling needs that can help your family keep items out of the landfill.
Check out our list of eco-friendly businesses and services that make it easy to recycle your tree and lights
There’s nothing like a fresh Christmas tree, decorated to the nines, to get the kiddos in the holiday spirit. Yet after a few weeks, those trees get a little droopy and dry. Before you toss your old tree and lights out on the curb, try the eco-friendly option of treecycling that turns your holiday tree into everything from garden mulch to wood chips. It’s easier than you think when you bring your pines and lights to a Seattle Christmas tree recycling spot.
If you currently have curbside yard debris service from your garbage and recycling company, you can place your tree at your curb on pick-up day after following these simple steps:
Prep your tree by removing all decorations and adornments (ornaments, tinsel, lights, wire, nails, etc.) and returning the tree to its original state.
Trim your tree to six feet or shorter (branches to less than four feet) to fit into the collection trucks.
Bundle each section with sisal string or twine (not plastic). Flocked and plastic trees will not be accepted for curbside recycling.
At several King County Recycling and Transfer Stations, clean trees can be recycled as yard waste starting in January. Trees should not exceed eight feet in length, must be free of decorations, and must be separated from garbage and recyclables. Trunks should not exceed four inches in diameter. At all other King County facilities, trees will be accepted as garbage at the garbage fee which ranges from $1 to $5 per tree.
Many area Scouting groups host annual Christmas tree recycling events. This year Seattle and Eastside troops are making plans to keep the tradition going. Scout Troop 600, serving West Bellevue (Beaux Arts, Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts, or Yarrow Points), is one that traditionally holds an event and has one planned for 2022. Keep your eyes peeled for these pop-ups around the city, and remember for safety reasons many troops cannot accept flocked or artificial trees, trees wrapped in plastic or with metal attachments, trees with tinsel or nails or wreathes with metal shape wires.
This year, you can add a sustainable twist to your family’s holiday tree-hunting tradition by purchasing a living tree at a nearby nursery. Swanson's Nursery carries a great selection of live trees, including trees from around the world. On the Eastside, Squak Mt. Greenhouses & Nursery offers spruce, pines, firs, and more to add sustainability to your season. Plan ahead for this option, as living trees can only be kept indoors for around a week. Then, they must either be planted outside in the garden or in an outdoor container. Living trees also require a little extra love when used indoors.
Bring Them to a Local Hardware Store or Drop-Off Center
If you have burned-out light strands or you’ve decided to replace your traditional lights with new energy-efficient LED ones, there are several places around the city to recycle your old holiday lights. All seven Puget Sound area McLendon Hardware stores will take your old holiday lights, as will the Maple Leaf Ace Hardware. Uptekk also offers a recycling drop-off center in Auburn, and West Seattle Recycling has a drop-off center on 16th Ave. S.W. in the city. If light strings have old-style large bulbs, remove the bulbs before dropping them off.
Ridwell, a paid recycling collection program serving many King County neighborhoods, does item pick-up every two weeks. If you've been thinking about subscribing to this service, maybe now's the time. Be sure to sign up by mid-December so your account is ready to go once the holidays are over.
If you want to recycle your old holiday lights and save money on new LED lights, take advantage of the mail-in Christmas light recycling program. Instead of driving your lights to a drop-off location, simply box them up and mail them to HolidayLEDs.com.
All those magical displays you see around the neighborhood? They take a lot of prep and tons of twinkling lights to put on every year. Many are looking for (and appreciate) donated lights and other outdoor holiday decor. The Very Merry Christmas House is a particularly eco-conscious display—much of their decor is saved from the landfill, with new pieces added every year.
Your kid may not be ready to give up his LEGO collection, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start eliminating plastic from your everyday life. Wondering how to make it happen? It’s easier than you think! From buying in bulk to swapping out your plastic straws, these 29 ideas on how to reduce plastic waste will start you on a better path today.
2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store (this includes your own smaller reusable bags for fruits and veggies).
3. Buy in bulk when you can, and bring your own containers. Remember to weigh the containers before checking out so the cashier can accurately ring you up.
10. Stop using bath and body products with synthetic microbead exfoliants and opt for either natural exfoliating ingredients like scrubs with nut/seed exfoliants like St. Ive’s, or sugar scrubs.
11. Know your plastic recycling codes and what your town does and doesn’t recycle. Upcycle what your town can’t recycle: plastic containers and bottles are great for craft/paint projects, puzzle/game piece storage or bath toys.
12. Compost at home to cut down on the amount of trash bags you use.
13. Switch to compostable, eco-friendly trash bags like these.
14. Keep a set (or two) of utensils/reusable straws at work, in your purse, in your diaper bag or in your car, so you don’t have to use disposable utensils when you’re out and about. PS: Chopsticks take up a lot less drawer/bag real estate, and you’d be surprised how many things you can eat with them!
15. Join your local Buy Nothing Group (or start your own) to pay it forward and snag gently-used goods. We love these groups especially for the baby and toddler phase when it's easy to get inundated by plastic toys and gear.
17. If babe loves the food pouches, but you hate the waste, research where you can recycle them via Terracycle. You can even start a collection site of your own.
18. Buy toilet paper and paper towels that are wrapped in paper instead of plastic.
19. Better yet, ditch the paper towels altogether. Use old rags or towels.
The most organic way to be kind is to start with small acts of kindness in your home. Encouraging kindness is an important skill that is foundational to a child’s development. Kindness is innate within us all however it is also a skill that can be taught and nurtured and the best place to begin cultivating this, is at home.
The easiest way for children to learn to be kind is when you as a caregiver, model kind behaviors. Children learn by what they see and hear, which is a reminder that our children are always passively watching and gaining an understanding of how we communicate and interact, from the closest people around them.
Try one of these engaging and hands-on activities to promote kindness in your home.
1. Kindness Begins with You
Being kind to yourself is the first step in being kind to others. Positive self-talk is a powerful tool to assist with increased self-confidence, motivation and improve your outlook. For examples of positive self-talk, check out: Yes I Can: A Guide to Courage from the Big World of Little Dude —a book series that promotes social and emotional learning.
2. Create a Kindness Jar
A kindness jar is a fantastic way to promote kindness. By acknowledging kind acts, it helps with positive reinforcement and is a great visual to see the kindness jar become full—full of kindness.
3. Create an Empathy Teddy Hospital
Being kind to others begins with empathy. Empathy is a difficult concept to grasp for children. A concrete way to teach empathy is through dramatic or pretend play. Every child has been to the doctor and it can bring up feelings of stress or anxiety, so they can relate to the poor little teddy bears that are feeling unwell and are now in the teddy hospital.
4. Bake Kindness Cookies
Baking can be a fun way to show children how to follow a recipe, how to work together, and then have a gift they can thoughtfully give away. Being kind to others is both beneficial for the giver and receiver and putting hard work into making delicious treats, like kindness cookies, to give away will certainly sweeten the lucky recipient’s day!
5. Donate & Recycle
Recycle a box and put it to use! Go around your home, with your child, and asking them to select gently used items of toys, books, and clothing that they no longer need or use, and put them in the box. You could also decorate the box before donating it to a local charity, shelter, or a non-profit thrift store.
Hi! I am an author, founder and educator. I have a Bachelor of Media Communications, Bachelor of Elementary Education Degrees as well as an Early Childhood Montessori Certification and in the process of completing a Master of Education. I live between New York and Byron Bay. I'm the mama of Grace, Theodore and Little Dude!
One of the loveliest elements of the holiday season, the Christmas tree, can lose its luster pretty quickly once the new year arrives. Good news! The city’s Mulchfest program makes it easy for you to recycle your Christmas tree and do some good for the city’s parks and young trees. Here’s how to get rid of your Christmas tree and do a little green good this year. (Plus: the last day for sanitation tree pickup and recycling!)
Treecycle it: MulchFest2021
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
MulchFest is back! NYC’s own “TREECYCLE” tradition is taking place from December 26, 2021 to January 9, 2022. Last year the city mulched more than 29,000 trees, and it's pumped to set a new record for 2022!
Bring your tree (free of all decorations, netting and wrapping) and it will be recycled into wood chips to nourish trees and plants on NYC streets and gardens. Drop it off at one of the many Mulchfest locations around the city (there are many in every borough), or bring it on "Chipping Weekend", January 8 and 9, to see your tree reduced to bits live.
Bonus: If your own backyard needs some sprucing up, you can get a free bag of mulch to take home with you after your tree is chipped. (Locations marked with an asterisk have mulch for the taking.)
Spread the Love — and the Mulch! Feel like spreading some of that green love around? You and the kids can volunteer to add that awesome mulch to city trees. (The mulch helps protect young trees, shrubs and garden beds from the winter cold, helps plants retain moisture and provides a nice decorative touch.) Sound like the green, civic activity your family's been seeking? Events are happening in all boroughs on weekends in January. Click here to see locations, dates, and times and to register! (And remember, dress warmly, wear closed-toe shoes and a mask!)
Kick it To the Curb — and Still Recycle It!
Dates for Department of Sanitation Pick-Up Bring your tree down for curbside pick-up by the Department of Sanitation from January 6-15. Trees will be recycled into compost for NYC’s public spaces (parks, gardens, etc.). Be sure to remove all decorations from the tree and do not place the tree in a plastic bag.
Note: trees left curbside with holiday decorations of any kind remaining on them will be collected as garbage. If your metal or plastic imitation tree has worked its last holiday season, dispose of it with your normal recycling and it's off your hands.
Have Someone Else Do the Heavy Lifting — and Still Recycle It!: Removal Services
If you’re unable to physically take your tree down to the curbside or to a MulchFest chipping location or drop-off site, don’t worry. Services like NYC Trees can come to your home, remove the tree, and take it directly to a recycling location for you. Starting at $80 for a four-to-five-foot tree, NYC Trees makes the tree removal process (and clean up!) about as easy as it gets. (If you want them to take off your lights, ornaments, etc. expect to pay more.)
Earth Day is Fri. Apr. 22 this year and if you’re looking for easy ways to show our planet some love, you’ve come to the right place. While topics like climate change may seem overwhelming, everyone can do their part by something as simple as recycling.
To make turning trash into treasure as easy as can be, lots of family-friendly companies have partnered with Terracycle, a social enterprise currently in 21 countries that is diverting tons of waste away from landfills. Keep scrolling to see how you can be a part of this movement with brands you already use, not to mention companies that have their own programs in the works.
Mon Coeur New Again Program
Clothing brand Mon Couer wants parents to send their used clothes back to be up or downcycled. The New Again Program offers 40% off your next purchase for sending in used clothing, which will reduce waste and over usage of fabrics and keep items out of landfills.
Once Upon a Farm
All those baby food, smoothies and applesauces pouches an be easily recycled with Terracycle. Clean them out, dry them off and ship off so they can be sorted and pelletized––ready for a new life.
Cerebelly
Food pouches are super convenient, especially for on the go, but they add up quickly. If you're at a loss for what to do with them, head to Terracycle to snag a printable label! Add it to a box of used pouches, ship and repeat.
Hasbro
Tired of storing old games and toys? Recycle them! Hasbro's recycling program takes your kiddos old My Little Pony, Play-Doh, GI Joe and more and transforms them into things like play spaces, park benches and flower pots so they can continue to bring joy.
Honest Drink Pouch
Kiddos love their juice! Rather than tossing in the trash, save up the aluminum and plastic pouches (you can even keep the straws!) for recycling. Make sure the pouches are empty before shipping. When they are received, they'll be melted into hard plastic so they can be reshaped into something new again.
Spin Master
CNW Group/Spin Master
The new Spin Master Recycling Program gives a second life to your toys. All you have to do is sign up on the TerraCycle program page and mail in your old toys. Your old toys will be cleaned and melted into hard plastic so they can have a new lease on life by being made into items like park benches and picnic tables.
Gerber
Gerber
There are tons of Gerber products you can recycle, like baby food packaging (but no glass!), shrink labels, plastic containers, plastic lids, flexible plastic pouches and small and large hook Gerber baby clothing hangers. Once you have a full box of products, just send in with a free label and your products will be recycled free of charge.
L.O.L. Surprise!
L.O.L. Surprise! dolls are super fun, but they come with a ton of wrapping! Now you don't have to wonder what to do with it all. Just pack it up and ship to Terracycle and they'll do the rest.
Colgate
Don't toss those old toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes into the trash! Check out the simple programs from Terracycle where you can drop off in person or mail in so those old products don't end up in a landfill.
Carter's
Carter's has recently partnered with Terracycle to bring you Kidcycle, a way to recycle old baby and kids clothes. Not only can you send them in or drop off for free, but all your packages can even earn you Rewarding Moments points, too!
Target Car Seat Trade In
Target
A few times a year Target's car seat trade-in keeps millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. All you have to do is drop off your old seat at a participating Target location, get a coupon and rest easy that you're saving the planet, one seat at a time.
Nordstrom BEAUTYCYCLE
iStock
We mamas have tons of products that could end up in the trash––or get recycled! Nordstrom's BEAUTYCYCLE program takes packaging from haircare, skincare, makeup and more so it doesn't head to a landfill. You can help them reach their goal of recycling 100 tons of packaging!
Stasher
Stasher bags already keeps tons of waste out of landfills, but even they don't last forever. When you send them in for recycling, they'll be. cleaned and ground into a crumb-like powder which is used for playground, athletic field or track ground cover.
Teva
Send your beloved Teva sandals on one last adventure through TevaForever. The recycling program turns them into melted hard plastic so they can go on to live in athletic and playground tracks.
VTech & LeapFrog
When your little has outgrown their fave learning or electronic toy, recycle it! The free program will melt down your old toys and transform them into materials used in new playground and park equipment.
The academic journal, Science, recently published a study that shows children today will live through three times as many climate disasters as their grandparents. With people around the world concerned about the current climate crisis, it’s more important than ever to have talks with your children about what global warming is and how to slow it down.
Helping Kids Understand the Climate Emergency How do we help our children learn that they can take part in helping slow down climate change? We need to emphasize that small actions can lead to big changes.
First, it’s important to explain to them what climate change is and how it can negatively impact the earth, animals, plants, and our daily lives. This isn’t the easiest thing to do, since even as adults, we struggle to understand what climate change and global warming truly means. Conversations about energy sources and carbon dioxide emissions can be overwhelming to children. Instead, we need to talk about concepts and ideas that are familiar and relatable.
For example, you can talk about global warming in relation to how it affects polar bears. The glacial areas where polar bears live are melting away and getting too warm, making it harder for them to thrive. (The temperature has increased 1.9ºF in the past 100 years, according to NASA, and it will be 8.6ºF hotter by 2100.)
Another example is talking about the rise of ocean waters from the melting ice, which can affect coastal areas where people live or go on vacation. Or pollution occuring in the ocean because of people not recycling is another topic that can be talked about. There is so much trash in the oceans that it is making the animals and plants that live in it get sick. If we recycle, it can help with the amount of trash that enters our oceans.
There are lots of books that can help explain climate change and what we all can do to help. For example: Old Enough to Save the Planet or The Story of Climate Change are great options. You can also teach your children about young environmental activists like Greta Thunberg, who started the international movement #fridaysforfuture.
10 Steps Children and Their Parents Can Do to Help the Environment
Modeling behavior is key. Be the example to your children and show them one person can make a big difference with these easy to do examples:
Turn off computers, televisions, and other devices when not in use.
Save water by taking shorter showers and turning off the water when brushing your teeth.
Use reusable food containers and water bottles at school instead of plastic ones that are used once and thrown away. Let your kids pick out their own special containers and bottles to pack for school.
Turn off the lights after leaving a room. Open a window in the morning to let in colder air instead of turning on the a/c. During colder months, wear warmer clothing and pajamas instead of turning up the heater. Power plants emit a lot of air pollution, so cutting back our energy usage is important.
Recycle. Make it a fun activity for kids by having different colored bins for the different items and make it part of their daily activities.
Reuse. Find items in your recycling bins that can be repurposed for crafts or imaginative play.
Walk or ride a bike instead of driving. It’s a great way to save on gas, get exercise and spend time as a family.
Create a vegetable garden together to help everyone be more excited to eat more vegetables and less meat. #meatlessMonday
Teach them to always put their trash in trash cans or recycling bins. Go for a walk in a neighborhood park or beach and pick up any trash you see! Make it a fun competition and see who can collect the most!
Use cold water when washing laundry and hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer to save energy.
Encourage your children to have these conversations with their classmates and teachers. Have them ask their teacher what they can do at school to help make it part of their daily activities. Always emphasize and praise that their small contributions can lead to big changes that are beneficial for our world.
How Can Lingokids Help Your Kids Understand the Climate Catastrophe At Lingokids, we firmly believe that children learn by example. We want to make a difference and help you raise the children of the future. For example: improving upon their critical thinking about important issues like climate change or their creativity when it comes to thinking about how they can help their neighborhoods.
At Lingokids you can find entire in-game lessons that are focused on protecting the earth. Your child can enjoy games, songs, and traceables while learning about recycling and sustainable habits. Throughout the app, they can also learn about animals and ecosystems all over the world, from the North Pole to tropical rainforests.
By expanding children’s awareness of these environments at an early age, we can set the stage for conversations and then actions around protecting endangered animals and nature conservation.
Sara Mateos-Aparicio is the Communications Manager at Lingokids, an early childhood education platform. Sara studied Journalism in Madrid, writing for years for radio stations and print magazines. Sara has worked for a variety of education startups, most recently joining Lingokids in 2019 to lead their communications initiatives.