Seed bombs are a cute and clever way to get kids involved in beautifying their neighborhoods. They're fairly easy to make and don't require a bunch of obscure ingredients, so they make a great project for kids to help out with.

To spread even more color, make a huge batch and package them up with a little note regarding Earth Day. Help your kids pass them out to your neighbors in order to share your message of protecting and preserving the earth.

There's a number of ways to make bird feeders at home using things like toilet paper tubes, pinecones, and even stale bagels. All of these projects are simple for tiny hands, and it's super exciting to stand watch and see what types of birds frequent your feeders.

You can take this activity a step further and make note of the colors and other physical features of the birds you see. Looking them up later in a book or online to learn more about them is sure to delight your budding nature lover.

The process of propagating has taken over our house at the moment — my little guys are infatuated with the idea that you can grow new vegetables from their own scraps. Growing vegetables from vegetables is something that could not be easier, and it yields incredible conversation into the process of growth. It also brings kids great investment into vegetables, which, if you have a picky eater, might actually get them to try a few new things.

Let's face it, there are few things kids like more than playing in dirt, and few things we, adults, like more than fresh herbs to cook with. Luckily, it's easy to combine those two loves, and create your own simple herb garden. The process of growing your own food from seeds is a terrific lesson for young kids who don't quite understand where and how our food comes to be (and a great activity for Earth Day, as all roads lead back to the earth).

This is something I used to do with my preschoolers in the classroom. It's quick and easy way for kids to understand how recycling works and how to take ownership of that process in their own home.

To start, separate a bunch of your trash (be sure to clean items beforehand and take care to not use items with sharp edges), and include items that belong in the garbage can and all aspects of your recycling bin (paper, plastic, glass, etc.). Make simple labels for all of your trash receptacles so your kids are able to self-identify what goes where. Help them sort out the garbage and recycling into their respective bins, all while explaining the process of recycling and things we can do to create less trash.

In the days to follow, ask them for help when you need to throw things out in order to really cement the process in their minds.

The concept of pollution is often a little difficult for young kids to understand, but it's easier for them to understand when you connect pollution with something they love, like the ocean. Explaining how ocean pollution affects their beloved sea creatures can help younger kids understand how their actions affect other living things.

An ocean recycling sensory bin can bring that concept together. Using a tub of water (even a baby pool if you're outside, bathtub or large Tupperware if you're inside), some food/bath colors, and some ocean animal toys, create a faux-ocean. Next, add the trash (use clean and not-sharp items, as described in the previous activity).

While talking to your kids about how pollution can affect the ocean and its animals, help them clear your faux-ocean of garbage. Take the activity a step further and have them sort the garbage and recycling, as in the previous activity.

Let them play in their clean faux-oceans afterwards — it'll help them understand, on their own level, how awesome a clean ocean can be.

Books and reading aloud is a great way for kids to join in the conversation and understand concepts that they may not be familiar with. Luckily, there is no shortage of great Earth Day-appropriate books for young kids.

Some of our favorites include Biscuit's Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, The EARTH Book by Todd Parr, Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers, Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty, and Charlie and Lola: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers by Lauren Child.

There's nothing that really beats this activity. Earth Day, and everyday, make a point of going outside. Sure, sometimes it's cold, it's wet, it's rainy, it's too hot. But I've never met a kid that doesn't want to be outside in any of those conditions. Prepare for the weather, drink lots of water, and take some time to enjoy the earth.

Splash in puddles with your little ones, teach them how to climb trees, explore with them, talk about plants, point out shapes in the clouds, and lay in the grass with bare feet. Enjoying the outdoors and truly showing your kids how to love it is the absolute best thing you can do with, and for, your kids to instill a kindness for nature.

Check out Romper's new video series, Bearing The Motherload, where disagreeing parents from different sides of an issue sit down with a mediator and talk about how to support (and not judge) each other’s parenting perspectives. New episodes air Mondays on Facebook.