Summer boredom busted! National Geographic just launched the Planet Possible Family Challenge and made it a lot more fun to get outside together. And don’t tell the kids, but a little learning will be involved, too.
Over the next eight weeks, look for a new challenge every Thursday to complete with your family. The first one is live now: explore the ground with a (homemade) magnifier! Each challenge has three parts: a DIY component, using the handmade tool or craft to explore biodiversity and tips on protecting the natural world.
The new program is part of National Geographic’s Planet Possible initiative, dedicated to inspiring everyone to live more lightly on the planet. While you wait for the next challenge, look around on the site for other entertaining and informative activities. Learn how to become a wildlife detective, forest bathe, or grow an indoor garden! You’ll also find more craft ideas, including making a homemade telescope or “elephant toothpaste.”
Time to start exploring! There’s no better resource than National Geographic for a little education on our beautiful world. Spend a little time outside this weekend and start June on the right note!
—Sarah Shebek
Images courtesy of Caitlin Holbrook (21st Century Fox) and Matthew Rakola
To kick off Pride month, former NSYNC member Lance Bass and his husband Michael Turchin had a special announcement to make! They’re expecting boy-girl twins in November with the help of a surrogate. Since the duo is due around Halloween, Bass and Turchin created a humorous horror-inspired video to share the exciting news.
In an interview with People magazine, the dads-to-be revealed they’d been talking about starting a family since they met—and they’ve been together for 10 years. They also said they’d hoped to have two kids and since Turchin is also boy-girl twin, the result is meant to be! The couple shared the reveal video simultaneously on Instagram today, after Bass posted to TikTok early in the afternoon.
After Bass skyrocketed to fame as a member of one of the planet’s most popular boy bands, he revealed he was gay in 2006 and subsequently awarded the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. He began dating Turchin, an artist, in 2011 and they married in December 2014. Turchin also shared a throwback magazine cover with one of the couple’s wedding shots to his Instagram today, writing “Happy #pridemonth everyone! Don’t let anyone diminish your worth and let that love & light shine bright.”
No question the twins will add plenty of love and light to the lives of Bass and Turchin. Congratulations to the happy couple as they embark on the journey of fatherhood!
It’s hard to beat Sesame Street when it comes to classic kid’s entertainment. From Big Bird to Bert and Ernie, these characters are a reliable hit with the smallest members of the household.
Now there’s another way to learn and play, thanks to a partnership with toy companies Little Kids Inc and CreateOn! They’ve launched a number of new products just in time for summer fun.
Sesame Street Splash & Play Water Mat
Little Kids Inc.
The Sesame Street Splash & Play water mat looks perfect for beating the heat. It's designed for ages 18 months and up, with inflatable Elmo characters and a gentle water mist. For tactile play opportunities, the mat includes a push & play water pillow and floating foam characters. You can buy it for $24.99 on Amazon.`
The Monster at the End of This Story Magna-Tiles
CreateOn
Add a Sesame twist to standard Magna-tiles with three new sets! The Monster at the End of This Story set features lovable Grover and a structure set. The interactive toy shows kids Grover has nothing to be afraid of, with help from his friend Elmo. It's available now on Amazon for $39.95, for ages three and up.
Oscar's Garbage Truck Magna-Tiles
CreateOn
Learn eco-friendly tips with The Sesame Street Garbage truck, featuring Oscar and Elmo. Take the truck for a ride and find out ways to help planet earth. Kids can build Oscar's garbage can to put in trash, or set up a conservation scene. It's $49.95 on Amazon for ages three and up.
Hooper's Store Magna-Tiles
CreateOn
Finally, kids can take part in another favorite activity, shopping, with the Hooper's Store set. Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby are ready to shop and there's plenty of food to find in the store. Plus there's a lesson on the food pyramid as they build a shopping cart. This one's also $39.95 on Amazon for ages three and up.
When my four-year-old granddaughter, Alma, heard her mom using the word, environment, she quickly asked her where she had heard that word.
Surprised, my daughter answered her with a question, “where had she heard that word?”
Alma explained that she had learned about the environment at her school and that she and her “Green Room” classmates were going to “Actually save the environment!”
My daughter replied that that was great news, then asked how they were going to do that. Alma described that they were going to recycle things and reuse things —so there isn’t a lot of trash on the planet. She elaborated, “The earth is our home, and if we don’t take care of it, we can’t just move to another planet, like Mars or Saturn.”
As part of her class’s efforts, they have been busy making play-dough this week, for a sale to friends and family—with the proceeds going to adopt a polar bear. As Alma proudly proclaims, “We’re going to save the polar bears too!”
Introducing the observance ofEarth Day to young children is important for many reasons. First and foremost, it is essential to note that the next generation will face daunting challenges related to climate change and environmental issues. Laying a foundation that provides the notion of stewardship will be the first step in ensuring their critically needed commitment as they become adults.
For real change to occur in our efforts to save the earth, governments must recognize and respond to the effects of climate change with meaningful policies. Citizens must demand and support policies that are “earth-friendly,” then work and sacrifice to implement them.
While an effort to adopt one polar bear may seem insignificant, it is one of the many ways that the seeds of taking care of our home—the earth—are planted. Discussions such as: trying not to use too much water or electricity, caring for and planting trees and gardens are examples of simple ideas that can be introduced to young children.
Just as Alma and her classmates enthusiastically embraced this spring observance, children and adults around the world are embracing the urgent need to care for our planet.
By celebrating Earth Day with our families, we teach children responsibility and problem-solving; our community efforts reinforce the concepts of cooperation and collaboration, which in turn yields community connection.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
During the pandemic, single-use items reigned supreme as families doubled down on sanitation to protect themselves from the virus. With a little planning, we can still be planet superheroes while keeping ourselves safe and protecting our planet against the massive deluge of pollution stemming from the needless use of disposable masks, gloves, wipes and other trashy plastic items.
Small things we do every day can make the planet a greener and cleaner place for people and animals today and for future generations. Check out these 4 easy actions to give a KA-POW! to plastic pollution during a pandemic.
1. Villain: Pitiful Plastic Polluter / Superhero Action: Pick it up
If you see a face mask fluttering by in a park, washed up in a gutter or lost in a parking lot, you can safely help dispose of it so it doesn’t wash into our waterways and pollute our planet. Blue face masks and many other face coverings are made from plastic textiles like polyester. They don’t biodegrade. Don’t touch the waste with your bare hands to protect yourself from potential viral contamination. Instead have on hand a reusable garden glove, kitchen glove, trash picking stick or something else to take it safely to the trash for disposal. Follow the same steps for any other trash you see lost in the environment! Plastic trash isn’t just ugly, it’s also dangerous to wildlife who commonly mistake garbage for food.
2. Villain: Gross Garbage Gyre / Superhero Action: Pack a litter-less lunch
It’s time to reboot your lunch! For many of us, school and work have been happening at home, so we’ve fallen out of the habit of packing food to go. Remember to prevent plastic pollution in the first place by reducing or eliminating it from your daily routine. A perfect place to start is lunchtime. Pack reusable containers that are designed to be easy to use and easy on the environment. Packing your own containers to school every day can prevent more than a thousand pieces of trash.
3. Villain: Trashy Takeout / Superhero Action: Refuse Single Use Takeout Items
When you purchase takeout, make sure you leave a note in the online ordering portal or with the telephone order taker specifying that you do not want any single-use extras packed with your meal. Say goodbye to making single-use plastic cutlery, single-serving ketchup and other condiment packets, and disposable napkins the new normal. You can go even further and ask restaurant managers to stop automatically including these single-use throw-aways with orders and provide them only upon customer request. Recommend biodegradable birch or bamboo utensils in lieu of throw-away plastic cutlery.
4. Villain: Ugly Online Orders / Superhero Action: Choose Plastic-Free Shipments
When shopping online, choose companies with planet-centric shipping practices that carbon offset shipments by packing all orders plastic-free (kraft tape instead of plastic, recycled dunnage paper instead of peanuts and plastic pillows, recyclable cardboard boxes instead of trashy padded plastic envelopes).
Insider Tip: If you’re buying from Amazon, go to amazon.com main search bar and enter keywords “Amazon Customer Service,” select chat, and request that you want your account flagged to receive plastic-free shipments. (Note: Requesting may or may not result in plastic-free shipments depending on your service area, but at least you’re sending a message to Amazon that you don’t want plastic waste in your shipments.) For other stores, add a customer note at checkout requesting a plastic-free, carbon offset shipment or send an email to the company.
Sandra Ann Harris is the author of "Say Goodbye To Plastic: A Survival Guide For Plastic-Free Living" and the founder of ECOlunchbox, a mission-based consumer products company. Her passion is protecting the oceans by reducing people's dependence on plastics. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
If there’s one thing every parent on the planet wants, it’s to protect their child. YouTuber Mark Rober is no different.
The former NASA and Apple engineer recently took to his channel to share a special video, and it’s all about his son. Rober is known for keeping his family life private, but in this newest upload, he shares that his son is autistic.
Rober shares in the commentary that he actually filmed the video two years ago, but only just released it now as he finally feels comfortable. His eloquent, succinct and loving descriptions of Autism and how it makes his son as special as he is in enough to make you reach for the tissue box.
In addition to the revelation, Rober is also teaming up with Jimmy Kimmel for a special virtual event that will benefit NEXT for Autism. The unique program creates opportunities for adults on the spectrum so they “can live, work and be a part of their communities so they are not left to live lives in isolation.”
Color the Spectrum will take place on Apr. 30 at 4:30 p.m. PST on YouTube. You can expect to see plenty of stars join in on this very special program including Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Conan O’Brien, Miranda Sings, iJustine, Jack Black, Jacksepticeye, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Karl Jacobs, Marques Brownlee, Maya Rudolph, Mark Hamill, MrBeast, Paul Rudd, Rhett & Link, Sarah Silverman, Stephen Colbert, Terry Crews, Vsauce, Zach Galifianakis and more.
The statistics on how we’ve treated the planet up to this point are pretty bleak. Only 9 percent of the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and each year, 8 million tons of plastic pollute the ocean.
While the problem at hand is massive, it’s easy for kids to get involved because even the smallest sustainable action helps to make a collective difference. I’ve learned through experience with my own son that it’s best to keep it simple, focusing on the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Reduce
Children always gravitate to the newest and coolest toys, fashion or food, but the conspicuous consumption Americans are known for is not good for the planet. Instead, try and instill the belief that less is more and quality trumps quantity.
Reinforce reducing consumption and making smarter choices with a quick trip to the grocery store. Teach your kids how to choose items with the least amount of packaging, shop in the bulk foods section, avoid single-serving foods and bring cloth shopping bags to haul it all home in.
Your house is the ideal place to demonstrate energy and water-saving behaviors to your kids. By modeling turning off lights when you leave a room, turning off appliances not in use, unplugging appliances not often used and taking short showers, you’ll help instill an attitude of conservation early.
Reuse
Upcycling is definitely a trend these days, so it should be easy to get kids, tweens and teens on board. The goal is to show kids that not everything needs to be thrown away. Before throwing away a toy, or perhaps clothes, examine it to see if it can be fixed or mended. If it can, teach your child how to make the fix so they can learn important new skills. With clothes and toys that your child has outgrown, engage them in collecting everything and donating it to a charitable organization. Not only are they learning how to reuse, but they’re also learning the importance of philanthropy. When you do need new clothes for the kids, consider shopping at a local consignment store rather than the mall.
Single-serve plastic items are some of the most destructive consumer goods on the market, but you can cut down on your consumption by using refillables whenever possible. Invest in decorative refillable soap dispensers for the home and make sure everyone in the family has a reusable water bottle. Disposable paper products are also incredibly wasteful. Limit your use of paper towels, plates and napkins, opting for cloth and ceramic options instead.
Since it’s impossible to limit using all of these things, teach kids how to make the most of a product. If you do use paper products, use the cardboard tubes and boxes for art projects. When printing at home or coloring, make sure to teach kids to use both sides of the paper.
Recycle
Recycling materials that can be reused is key to sustainability. Have bins at home to collect glass, plastic and paper that can be recycled. If your community already recycles, it’s easy, but if not, consider working with your kids to start a recycling drive in your community. It’s also important to note that not all items are recyclable, even if they appear to be, and not all states and cities have the same recycling practices. To best understand your city’s recycling rules, I recommend checking your local government website.
In addition to recycling, point out to your kids which of their favorite products are made from recycled materials.
There’s no better time than Earth Day to show kids that creating a sustainable planet starts at the grass-roots level. By getting the next generation excited about keeping the Earth healthy for years to come, we’re ensuring many more Earth Days in the future.
My name is Aureal Ojeda, and I am the founder of Outwoken Tea, a zero-waste tea brand sourcing from small tea farms in developing countries. I continuously strive to bring awareness to how each of us can challenge ourselves to create better, conscious decisions to positively impact the environment.
The Lorax is turning 50! In celebration of the Dr. Seuss classic, Random House Children’s Books is releasing an Anniversary Edition along with a few other eco-focused titles for the kiddos.
The publishing house recently announced the addition of The Lorax Project. Named after the beloved book, The Lorax Project is an environmental initiative aimed at supporting individual and community efforts to change the planet.
photo courtesy of Random House Children’s Books
The new eco-initiative will include the publication of 101 Ways to Help the Earth with Dr. Seuss’s Lorax (available in Sep. 21, 2021)! The new children’s book will feature kid-friendly ways to help the planet through activities, games and so much more. Not only will 101 Ways to help the Earth with Dr. Seuss’s Lorax focus on Earth-friendly ideas, the book is also printed on recycled paper.
National Geographic recently announced an Earth Day celebration you won’t want to miss. The virtual planet-friendly party will be hosted by travel expert Jessica Nabongo, feature ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall—and so much more.
The Earth Day bash kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Apr. 21 and will include an array of appearances from around the world. The line-up includes notable names, such as Angélique Kidjo, AURORA, José González, Maggie Rogers, Rostam, Valerie June, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma and Ziggy Marley.
Along with this lofty list of performers, My Morning Jacket will premiere their new music video during the virtual viewing party.
As if that’s not enough, Nat Geo’s Earth Day Eve remote party will also include a special preview of the new four-part Disney+ series Secrets of the Whales. National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry will introduce the series. Narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, Secrets of the Whales is available to view on Disney+ at 12:00 p.m. PT on Apr. 22.
National Geographic Chairman Gary Knell, said of the virtual event, in a press release, “For over 133 years, National Geographic has strived to inspire people to care more deeply for the planet. This Earth Day, we hope to provide that inspiration with a one-of-a-kind celebration that invites audiences everywhere to unite around the power of music.”
Knell added, “Our Earth Day Eve event—virtual and accessible to everyone—will showcase environmentally passionate artists from around the world together with some of National Geographic’s most extraordinary Explorers. From AURORA’s forest performance in Bergen, Norway, to Jane Goodall’s greeting from her home in England, the celebration will give us even more of a reason to fall in love with the place we all call home—and empower us to act to protect it.”
If you’re into the after-party scene, Nat Geo will host a second virtual event on its new TikTok account at 10:00 p.m. ET on Apr. 21. To watch the Earth Day Eve event, tune in on the National Geographic YouTube channel or visit the Nat Geo website here.
We live in a world of convenience and waste. We want things right now and within easy reach. Yet do we truly think about what happens to all the things we buy for convenience? Are they ever used? Are they disposed of properly? I’ve been a long time advocate for the environment and I’m here to tell you that yes, you can limit your need to buy everything out of convenience!
This year marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, a crucial movement dedicated to learning, helping, and understanding the need to protect our environment. Whether you believe in climate change or not, know that helping the environment can only be a positive endeavor even if you do one small act.
I’ve been leading an environmental program at an elementary school for years and it’s always a joy when a student has that “A-ha!” moment. The moment they realize that their small act of compassion for the planet can indeed make a huge impact! Below I’ve listed 10 easy swaps you can make for Earth Day and every day of your life!
1. Swap out single-use plastic bottles for reusable water bottles. Buying a reusable water bottle saves you money on buying single-use plastic water bottles. Plus you are eliminating unnecessary plastics in landfills.
2. Swap out single-use plastic sandwich bags for silicone or paper sandwich bags. These handy reusable bags last for many years and are compostable.
3. Swap out grocery store bags with reusable bags. Store grocery bags are usually made from a material that is not recyclable. It’s best to invest in a better quality reusable grocery bag or tote.
4. Swap out store-bought herbs and plant your own herb garden. Planting your own garden helps you have fresh herbs on hand and it reduces your carbon footprint by buying in stores.
5. Swap out polyester materials with eco-friendly materials. Materials made from organic cotton, repurposed cotton, and Tencel are great alternatives, plus they wear well!
6. Swap out driving a short distance to get groceries to walking to the stores. If you’re within walking distance to a store, then try walking there to reduce carbon dioxide made by cars.
7. Swap out packaged produce to picking your own produce at a farmer’s market or a free-standing produce rack. The plastic packaging wrapped around produce is truly unnecessary.
8. Swap out plastic utensils and use reusable stainless steel or bamboo utensils. Just say “NO” when you’re offered plastic utensils. It’s easy to bring your own or use your own utensils.
9. Swap out new books with used books. Yes, that new book smell is quite delightful! But gently used books keep the circular recycling effective.
10. Swap out the need to recycle by reducing and reusing. Follow the 5 “R’s” and you’re on the path to reduce plastic use! Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.
We can all do our part to make our planet healthier and cleaner. We all wish to breathe cleaner air and let nature reset itself so that our planet can stay healthy for many generations.
I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifestyle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.
