Kid-friendly sustainable activities for Children’s Day

Let the kids take the lead with these fulfilling eco-friendly activities the whole family can enjoy.

Switch it up this year by giving your family’s Children’s Day celebration a sustainable twist. Being green can be fun and fulfilling even for kids. All they need to do is find an activity that they enjoy.

Sustainability has always been one of Audi’s core beliefs and the company’s Mission:Zero campaign is a testament that every action, no matter how small, can have great impact. Introducing and exposing your kids to the concept of sustainability early can make it easier for them to adopt it in their daily lives as they grow older — and it’s even more fun when the family does it together.

Need some ideas? Here are five activities to kickstart your family’s green journey.

Let’s rock and roll

Move over Easter Bunny, there is a new treasure hunt in town and not only does it happen all year round, it is also an island-wide activity. Rock hunting has become more popular in recent years and while it follows a simple concept, it provides hours of fun for the whole family. Firstly, collect rocks from parks, paint on them (acrylic paint works best), then hide them in the park for other rock hunters to find. It’s a good activity to get the children out and about, exploring green spaces and parks in Singapore to look for painted rocks left behind by members of the rock hunting community. Aside from that, it also gives an opportunity for your junior Picassos to exercise their artistic talent by painting their own rocks and hiding it for other rock hunters to find.

Litter patrol at the beach

Teach the little ones the importance of caring for Singapore’s beaches by taking part in a coastal clean-up. According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA), they cleared around 4,009 tonnes of flotsam, comprising plastic bottles, styrofoam pieces, and tree trunks, in 2021. To put things into perspective, that’s the weight of about 730 Asian elephants. Marine debris is human-created waste in seas or oceans, which either continue to float around or are washed ashore where they become beach litter. There are several social enterprises that organise regular clean-up events while instilling some valuable learning points on how to lead a more sustainable life. Check out Green Nudge, Public Hygiene Council, and Seven Clean Seas.

Fight food waste and food insecurity

Your children can also join peers their age and do good work together through the Food Bank Singapore’s Juniors Club. Here, kids 5 to 9 years old and 10 to 16 years old participate in various hands-on activities aimed at giving them a better understanding of food waste and food insecurity. Parents are welcome, too. Reducing food waste not only means saving resources, it can also help address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. According to NEA, food waste accounts for 12%, or 817,000 tonnes, of total waste generated in Singapore in 2021. The Food Bank’s main goal is to reduce food waste and ensure those in need have access to nutritious food. They do this in various ways including collecting surplus food from suppliers and redistributing them to those in need.

Recycle or donate pre-loved items

Children often receive new toys on birthdays or special occasions like Christmas or Children’s Day. Whenever they get something new, take the opportunity to teach them the concept of donating, recycling, and giving old toys, books and clothes a new lease of life. Unfortunately, not everything can be recycled and items like stuffed toys will just end up in Semakau Landfill if thrown out. When donating, make sure the items are still in usable condition and that the charity are accepting them. Shortlist a few organisations for your kids and let them choose where they want to donate their goods then drop it off as a family. Getting them involved in the process from start to finish can help encourage responsibility and nurture a sense of community — they will also feel more accomplished!

Check out Books Beyond Borders (books), Green Square (clothes, shoes, textiles), Ten Feet Tall (shoes), The Salvation Army (most items), and Metta Welfare Association (clothes).

Grow a mini edible plant

If you would like to give your kid a gift to commemorate Children’s Day, why not go green—literally—with a family or children’s gardening kit. These kits come with everything you will need to start your urban farming journey, and microgreens are a good starting point for kids and beginners. The best part? Your budding gardener won’t have to wait too long as these microgreens grow pretty quickly and can usually be harvested and eaten by the seventh to tenth day. Growing a plant is great way to connect with nature and a fun way to teach the little ones about sustainable growing, processing, cooking and eating.

Check out Super Farmers, Everything Green, Fleur House, Hydroponics & Plant Care, and Green Cube.

Launch your child’s sustainability journey today. Happy Children’s Day!