ADVICE+REAL LIFE Crafting
CHORE BINS 1 milk carton (cut off the top third) + ice-pop sticks (for writing down chores) + foam letters + paint
Reduce, reuse, recreate How to get your kids excited about recycling this Earth Day, with minimal effort. WE HAVE TWO blue bins in our house: One is a standard recycling bin and the other contains recyclables that my daughter collects for crafts. In this second bin, you’ll find toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes and egg cartons, which she happily transforms into tiny telescopes, sushi-making robots, bongo drums for our family band (final name still up for debate) and more. And while I may not be a particularly crafty parent, I am all for my kid’s eco-friendly crafting. I adore watching her creativity unfold as she turns a shoebox into a rocket to send her stuffy off on a deepspace mission. I also love that this big blue bin of craft supplies has encouraged her to become more environmentally conscious. Most kids are inherently curious and caring little creatures. And it doesn’t require a lot of effort from parents to engage their children in the outdoor world—especially when it comes to animals and nature. Ask any child what their favourite critter is and they can probably list at least five, including one rare species you’ve
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never even heard of! We can encourage this compassionate nature with eco-friendly activities and habits that help protect that new frog species they just learned about or that special tree at the park they love to climb. One of the most effective ways to do this is by modelling conscientious habits of our own first (for instance, do not get caught throwing that perfectly craft-worthy ice-pop stick into the garbage in front of their ever-watching eyes!). We can also encourage them by inviting them to reuse and recycle with us. Recycling is a hands-on activity that even the youngest kids can get involved in, which is why it’s one of the easiest places to start your little one on their eco-journey. Recycling is also a great way to teach your kids about sustainability. We know the Earth is not made of infinite resources. And it’s our responsibility—not just as parents, but as human beings—to care for our home planet. Think of living sustainably as an essential life skill. Because it is! —KENDRA BROWN
PHOTO: TONY LANZ CHORE BINS CRAFT: JAMIE PIPER & KATE STEWART PHOTO: ROBERTO CARUSO MAKEUP & HAIR: SOPHIE HSIN FOR MAC COSMETICS/TRESEMMÉ HAIR CARE/PLUTINO GROUP WARDROBE STYLING: SHEA HURLEY/PLUTINO GROUP BOX CAR CRAFT: CAITLIN DOHERTY
RECYCLING BTINHESE ? OVERFLOWINILGL GIVE W CRAFTS MIGHT THINGS YOUSED A HAVE TOS FE! SECOND LI
