Simple, sustainable ways we teach our child to love and care for the Earth year-round.

Happy Earth Day! Honestly, I believe we should celebrate and honor our planet every single day—not just once a year. Too often, it feels like we take Earth for granted, using its resources without much thought. But there’s a cycle of life that depends on how we treat this beautiful planet.

So how do we raise more awareness about the importance of caring for the Earth—especially among our kids?

At our house, we start with the everyday things, beginning with what we eat. We talk with our son about where our food comes from—how it grows on trees and bushes, or in the ground. From an early age, I’ve involved him in gardening. He helps plant seeds in our raised garden beds and waters them regularly. Watching tiny seeds grow into vegetables has been such a powerful and fun lesson.

We’ve also attended Earth Day celebrations where we received free trees and seed packets. We planted some ourselves and shared the extras with friends and neighbors who couldn’t make it to the events.

This year, our little gardener helped plant strawberries, basil (pictured below!), and a variety of herbs and vegetables. He loves using his little watering can to care for them.

We try to compost as much as we can. We trim and water our plants mindfully—especially important since we live in a region with water restrictions. And we talk about the bees, butterflies, and all the wildlife that helps our garden grow. It’s all part of a beautiful, interconnected cycle.

At the end of the day, I suppose what I’m really saying is this: When we take care of the Earth, we’re also taking care of ourselves. What better way to teach our children to love themselves—and their world—than by showing them how to care for the planet that sustains us all?

In a world that’s moving fast, teaching our kids to slow down and care for the Earth helps them grow up grounded, grateful, and connected.