10 green activities for the whole family

1. Take your kids on a nature walk and teach them about the different plants and animals around them. Don't know anything about nature? Check out a book about how to organize your own nature walk or contact your local Parks Department or Audubon Society to sign up for a guided nature walk.

2. Participate in cleanup days at your local beach or park. Call your local Parks Department for clean-up dates and to confirm that it’s okay for you to bring along your preschooler.

3. It's never too early to get your little ones in the habit of recycling, so let them help you sort newspapers and other recyclable goods around the house and take them to a nearby recycling center.

4. Get your kids into the habit of turning off the water when brushing their teeth unless they are rinsing. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, four gallons of water is wasted for every minute that the sink is left running.

5. Remind your kids to turn off the lights after leaving a room and to remember to shut down the computer after playing one of their favorite educational games.

6. Instead of having your kids send out birthday cards, save a tree and send out an e-card.

7. "Adopt" an animal for your kids from the World Wildlife Fund. The WWF, in return, will send your kids an adoption certificate for them to put up in their room along with a plush toy and photo. The WWF will use your donation to help protect endangered species and promote their conservation efforts.

8. Remember to clean up after yourself while in public and remind your children to put their trash inside of a trash can.

9. Pack your kids lunch inside of a reusable bag instead of using a brown paper bag. Try to make sure that you provide your kids with reusable utensils and a cloth napkin to create the ultimate zero-waste lunch pack.

10. Keep your blinds up during the day to let in natural sunlight while working and playing around the house in order to conserve energy and save money.