Learn how to make Earth Day for your kids about stewardship rather than getting caught up in the politics and opinions of the day.
Do you remember the first time you thought about the Earth? I mean really considered the Earth. Its size. Everything it contains. Not only the Earth’s diverse collection of animals, plants, and weather, but the billions of people that call it home.
It shouldn’t surprise us that young children are often enamored by the Earth. From digging for dinosaur bones to learning about bugs and insects to fear and awe at a thunderstorm, Earth and all that’s within it affects our children. Why is that?
If you sit long enough and consider earth and its place in the solar system, you’ll start to feel small. Really small. Ask your kids. In most elementary science classes, your children will at some point watch a video that explains Earth’s size compared to the rest of the universe. It doesn’t take long to start feeling overwhelmed.
As questions about earth arise, so do conversations involving our purpose and meaning. A quick glance across recent history involving humans and earth reveals a few things. Fear and anxiety surround questions about climate. Concern abounds regarding political policies associated with weather and food insecurity. But when you look back into history, namely the beginning of the world, you’ll find a much different reaction to earth and creation.
Amidst the politics and opinionated views of Earth Day, it’s important to consider our current, modern role and our original God-given one as well. To do so requires a look at the creation story and our purpose within God’s original design.
To understand where we started, it’s worth noting where we are right now. Earth Day is an annual celebration committed to the demonstration of support for environmental protection. In other words, it’s a day set aside to recognize the importance of taking care of Earth.
Following an unfortunate oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in 1969, a few conservationists teamed up with lawmakers to create what was originally known as Environmental Rights Day. One year later, senators and conservationists teamed up again. In doing so, the group’s efforts turned into an annual moment now known as Earth Day.
As the decades passed, Earth Day gained more support from school districts, world leaders, and political associations. Now, Earth Day is a globally celebrated moment including yearly themes, social media campaigns, and educational activities.
Over the past few years, Earth Day’s popularity has risen through increased activity throughout school districts. Whether Earth Day is to blame or not, children are one of the primary audiences of climate-related messages.
Two years ago, The Washington Post Magazine released an article titled The Environmental Burden of Generation Z. Similarly, NPR published research with the conclusion: Young People are Anxious about Climate Change.
It’s clear that there’s a relationship between our children and the central themes of a topic such as Earth Day. What’s puzzling is how the tone around these conversations is overwhelmingly negative.
Rather than receive education about Earth’s history and the positive side of creation, our kids often listen to opinions that lead to fear instead of hope. Where did childhood wonder of earth go?
In conversation with parents, I realized that they shared common questions involving Earth Day and their kids.
As is the case with most polarizing topics, if we were to listen to loudest voices, we’d likely be led astray. However, if we distance ourselves from charged opinions, we can gain a sense of clarity and focus.
With a topic like Earth Day, it’s important to look at the reason there’s an Earth in the first place. Within Genesis, God creates everything in the world. During creation, He intentionally points out that He has given humanity “dominion over every living thing.” Yet, this also includes the blessing to “be fruitful and multiply.”
There are two relevant takeaways for us and our kids. Initially, it’s important to recognize our responsibility in God’s design. We have a role. But we are not completely in authority. God delegates His authority to us so that we might choose obedience and steward His creation properly (more on the idea of stewardship later).
Secondly, there is no room for selfishness in our role. God commands that we be fruitful and multiply. Why is that significant? Because it means that earth and all its goodness isn’t just for us. In other words, we’re meant to share earth with our family and our family’s families. The original responsibility God gave to Adam and Eve extends to us even today.
As you explore some of the Bible verses about taking care of the earth, consider this. What’s the message you want your kids to receive about Earth Day? As Christians who trust God, we know that the earth will not last forever. There is no way to “save” the earth from God’s plan for a new creation.
This is where our responsibility and stewardship carry a greater weight than simple environmental activity. As you discuss Earth Day with your kids, begin to open their eyes to how taking care of the earth isn’t just about caring for the plants and animals. We can also care for humanity, our family, and friends. Just as much as we care for physical needs, we have a responsibility to take care of people’s spiritual needs as well.
“And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.’” (Genesis 1:28-29).
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15).
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness within it, the world and those that dwell within, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.” (Psalm 24:1-2).
“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.” (Psalm 65:9).
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10).
When parents talk about stewardship with their kids, money is often the first and only topic of interest. However, the verses above present helpful reminders that stewardship involves much more than our finances.
Stewardship involves taking care of something that doesn’t belong to you. On a deeper level, stewardship includes intentionally taking care of something that doesn’t belong to you in the same way you would take care of something that did belong to you. Going further, the biblical view of stewardship recognizes that as humans, nothing directly belongs to us. We are stewards of every gift that God gives us.
There is no greater reminder of our humanity than the earth. At its core, stewardship requires humility, compassion, and care. A topic such as Earth Day presents the opportunity for our kids to consider these qualities through their identity as God’s steward.
One of the main topics surrounding Earth Day is trash. Rather than simply talking about the negative impact of trash, make a positive impact. Picking up trash that doesn’t belong to you is a tangible activity that can help your children grasp stewardship. Also, look for other needs in your local community. Earth Day provides our kids with opportunities to learn about planting trees, recycling, and other helpful activities. Don’t miss the moments to connect these actions to God’s design for stewardship.
As mentioned earlier, stewardship is often paired with money. However, our responsibility to be good stewards does not begin and end with giving money. Stewardship also includes our gifts, time, and talents. Help your kids discover how they can use their unique personality and gifts to help others this Earth Day. If they’re artistic, then encourage them to create posters or drawings. If your kids are more interested in activities, find local gatherings to positively impact your community.
You are the primary model of behavior and action for your children. If you want your children to cultivate a spirit of selflessness, then you need to model one for them. In the context of Earth Day, consider how you can serve those around you. Maybe it’s a family member or your neighbors. Think about an activity that could bless your community in a positive way such as an Earth Day craft or an exciting science experiment.
Ultimately, recognizing the opportunities around Earth Day goes far beyond recycling an extra water bottle. In fact, Earth Day is fertile ground for our children’s spiritual development.
When we engage and interact with God’s world in positive ways, we begin to remove the separation between the physical and spiritual worlds. This is a critical lesson for our kids to understand. This year, use the opportunity to ask your children questions about creation. Help them develop a worldview that communicates hope and life rather than fear and anxiety. Then, you can strengthen their understanding of stewardship and their role within God’s Earth.
Jackson Greer is a Special Projects Manager for Focus on the Family. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Clara. They love feeding birds, debating whether or not to get a cat, and reading William Carlos Williams’ poetry together. Also, he is a former high school English teacher and a defender of the Post Office.
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