Simple, Sustainable Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids

Every year, Earth Day reminds us of the power of small changes—and how much our little ones are watching. In our house, we love to celebrate with hands-on, hearts-open ways that connect kids to nature, reduce waste, and foster curiosity. Plus, I’m always on the lookout for ideas that support development and don’t involve messing up the living room even more. You feel me?

This Earth Day, I’m sharing our favorite family-friendly ways to celebrate the planet—through play, movement, and a little creativity—including a few of our go-to local resources! Let’s jump in.

♻️ Toy Rotation + Reuse = Less Waste, More Wonder

Unboxing toys from Unless Kids after donating the ones they no longer loved

As a pediatric physical therapist and a mom, I’ve seen firsthand how the right toy at the right time can spark big developmental gains. But we don’t need bins overflowing with plastic to make that happen. One of our family’s favorite Earth-friendly swaps? Toy libraries and recycle programs!

Rutabaga Toy Library and Unless Kids in Philly are our go-tos. Their selections are chef’s kiss—balance boards, sensory kits, musical instruments, open-ended building sets, and so much more. Rutabaga memberships allow browsing in person and include drop-in play, whereas Unless Kids allows you to keep toys as long as you want and brings the magic to you for families always on the run. No matter which works best for your family- borrow, play, return, repeat. No clutter. No waste. No ikea-worthy toy assembly instructions.

And for the toys your kids have outgrown? Donate to libraries, daycares, or simply add them to your Unless Kids toy chest to pass them along with purpose. This keeps toys out of landfills and in the hands of kids who need them, giving you a chance to talk to your kids about giving, sharing, and sustainability. BONUS: Code PHUNPHITPHAM will also get you 20% off already low prices on your first Unless Kids toy order!

🌱 Nature Play= Sensory Goldmine & Brain Boost

You know I’m all about movement-based learning—and Earth Day is the perfect excuse to take it outside. Nature is the original sensory bin, jungle gym, and mindfulness coach, all rolled into one. Research shows just 20 minutes outside reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and improves mental health in kids and adults. We prioritize hiking in our family to build strength, balance, coordination, and develop executive function and motor planning in the brain. Keep it fun by making your own scavenger hunts- try to find something for each color of the rainbow, find different shapes, find different textures, explore different movements (what can we climb over? duck under?) etc.

Don’t worry if it’s more “snack every ten feet” than full-out trek—movement and exploration in any form are still doing their job. And if you’re local to the Philly ‘burbs— head to Celebrate Trails Day this Saturday in Exton, PA! We’re hosting a special family-friendly movement activity and giveaways that you won’t want to miss!

🚫 Less Plastic, More Protection (For the Earth and Our Bodies)

We can't live without our stainless steel lunch boxes from Bentgo

Let’s talk plastic—because cutting down isn’t just good for the Earth, it’s good for us, too. Microplastics are now found in 100% of humans including blood, lungs, brains and even placentas (Yes, really.). This is particularly alarming considering plastic often contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormone function, especially in children!

Swapping plastic for safer, longer-lasting materials like wood, stainless steel, silicone and glass reduces our family’s exposure to these toxins—and supports a cleaner planet in the process. Even young toddlers can start to grasp these swaps when you model and narrate: "We’re choosing this toy because it’s made from wood and we can share it with other kids when we’re done." These swaps help your kids learn to care for the planet, their bodies, and others. Now that’s the kind of generational impact we’re all about.

🌍 DIY Upcycling Projects

Instead of tossing broken toys, turn Earth Day into a hands-on “fix it” day. Kiddos can help glue, repaint, or repurpose worn-out items. It’s developmentally rich (fine motor, problem-solving, executive functioning!) and so satisfying. Try turning puzzle with missing pieces into magnets or old scarves into pretend capes.

If you’re more aligned with “Pinterest Fails” than “Pinterest Moms” (guilty!)- That’s okay too! The process is what matters.

A younger L hiking through some rocks with Pop Pop at Natural Stone Bridge in the Adirondacks

🌈 The Takeaway: Earth Day Is Every Day

Sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s in the joyful mess of nature play, the satisfaction of repairing something together, and the community-centered magic of sharing resources. Let’s teach our kids that protecting the Earth isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a privilege and an adventure.

Happy Earth Day, Phamily! 🌍💚 Tag us on Instagram (@phunphitpham) if you try any of these or have favorite Earth-friendly tips of your own!