April 22nd is Earth day and it’s a good time to introduce kids to seeing nature as more than a big playground. Teaching them how to be earth friendly can mean a lot of things these days. It’s everything from making sure we have clean air and water by reducing pollution to keeping stuff out of our landfills by reducing waste.

To help kids understand conservation and know that they can play a big part in keeping our earth healthy, start small. Do something outside on Earth Day and make it fun.

• Plant a tree

• Hang a bird feeder

• Join a local group that’s cleaning up a park

• Visit a wildlife preserve and read the interpretive signs to learn how and why the wildlife is being protected

• Take a nature walk

Then, from here on out, make Earth Day everyday. Help your kids or grandkids choose a couple of things from the list below to get involved in conservation at home.

1. Read green by using the library. If you have to buy a book, look for one made of recycled paper.

2. Stomp those cans. Keeping your trash compact helps reduce the amount in the landfill.

3. Give your mom a green gift. Offer an hour or two of your time to help green the garden. Your could start a compost pile, mulch the flowerbeds, weed, or plant bird friendly shrubs. The best present ever.

4. Chill before you fill. Keep a refillable water bottle in the fridge instead of running tap water until it’s cold.

5. Make your smoothies at home. Use locally grown fruit for fresher, cheaper and more nutritious smoothies than any restaurant or store-bought version.

6. Butterflies and blooms. Help restore habitat balance for these winged insects. Plant butterfly friendly plants such as honeysuckle or lilac in your backyard.

7. Be a light switch keeper. Make sure lights and appliances around your house are turned off when they are not being used.

8. Regift. Instead of using your own money to buy something new, give your friend something you love, but no longer use, such as a book, toy, or game.

9. Pass ‘em on. Donate old magazines to a local boys and girls club, schools, or art and craft classes.

When all is said and done, if our kids grow up loving the earth, they will naturally want to protect it. And remember that small changes can lead to big results.

Happy Earth day!