10 fun ways to get the kids involved in eco-living
Sustainability, but make it child-sized and chaos-friendly!
Let’s face it, talking to kids about sustainability can either feel like you’re raising the next Greta Thunberg… or like you’re just shouting into a recycling bin. But the truth is, kids are naturally curious and often far more passionate about the planet than we give them credit for. (Mine have banned fish from the house and regularly check my recycling habits, no pressure!)
The good news? Eco-living doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, some of the best ways to involve your kids are also the simplest… and the most fun.
Here are 10 easy, creative and kid-approved ways to bring sustainability into everyday life:
1. Go on a nature treasure hunt
Take a walk and give them a list: spot a feather, find three kinds of leaves, look for birds. Use printable scavenger hunt cards or make your own. We usually have these Go Find It cards buried in the bottom of a bag ready for when the kids need some low effort entertainment. It’s a great way to connect them with the natural world and sneak in some fresh air (and five minutes without being asked for snacks).
2. Switch to reusable wipes (and let them be the helper)
Hand your child a reusable bamboo wipe and suddenly they’re very into wiping tables. It feels special, it’s soft on little hands and faces, and it introduces the idea of reusable over disposable in a way that’s hands-on and helpful. If you’re heading out for the day, ditch the bulky (and plastic filled) pack of wet wipes, run a few reusable wipes under the tap and pop in a resealable silicone pouch to keep them moist until they are needed.
3. Make your own "no-waste" lunchbox
Challenge them to pack a lunch without any single-use plastic. Let them use beeswax wraps, reusable containers, and cloth napkins. Bonus: this often makes them more excited to eat the food they packed. (Maybe. Hopefully. Who knows.) We love these reusable yoghurt pouches (great for jelly too) and these reusable snack pouches with funny faces on them.
4. Grow something together
Whether it’s herbs on a windowsill, strawberries in a pot, or full-on veggie beds, kids LOVE planting things. It teaches patience, care, and gives them a sense of ownership. Watching a tomato ripen on their own plant? Pretty magical stuff.
5. DIY your party bags
Instead of the plastic tat, why not use Handmade Hippo’s Decorate Your Own Banner Kits or mini scrunchies as party favours? They double as a party activity and a gift to take home. They’re creative, cute and way better for the planet. I’ve done party bags in the past with little packets of seeds or seed balls in so party guests can have something in their garden to remind them of the party.
6. Host a mini clothes swap
Got cousins, friends, or school pals with similarly sized kids? Invite them round for a little clothes swap! Let your child help pick out things to pass on and “shop” for something new to them. It’s like thrifting, but with snacks and juice.
7. Talk about plastic, but make it visual
Watch a short age-appropriate video on ocean pollution, then follow it with something fun like designing a reusable tote bag or planning a no-plastic dinner. It keeps the learning grounded in action, not doom.There are some great books for explaining these themes to kids like Somebody Swallowed Stanley and Somebody Crunched Colin by Sarah Roberts, also The Odd Fish by Naomi Jones.
8. Make a toy repair kit
Instead of chucking out broken toys, create a little "repair station" or “toy hospital” kit with glue, sewing bits, stickers and tape. It encourages kids to fix rather than throw away and gives forgotten toys a new lease of life (Frankenstein-style!!).
9. Create a “reuse it” craft box
In our house, this is called our Izzy Gizmo box inspired by the books by Pip Jones. Save loo rolls, cereal boxes, scraps of fabric and ribbon and let your kids go wild. Add glue, crayons, and scissors, and you’ve got an eco-friendly craft box that teaches creativity and resourcefulness.
10. Let them lead
Ask them: “What’s something we could do to help the planet?” You’ll be amazed at their ideas.
Eco-living with kids doesn’t have to mean huge changes or making everything from scratch. It’s about starting small, being curious together, and showing them that their choices matter.
Even if it’s just one less packet of baby wipes or one more walk in nature, those little things add up and they stick with our kids as they grow.
And if they gently remind you to bring the tote bag into the shop for the fifth time? That’s a win too.
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