Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share

With spring under way, people across the country are beginning to thaw out and enjoy warmer weather. Spring is the ideal time to resume outdoor activities, and April, in particular, presents several opportunities for you and your family to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup runs from March 1 through May 31, and Earth Day falls on April 22. As you and your family venture outdoors this spring, take advantage of this opportunity to encourage your children to help take care of the environment. Consider the following tips from Keep America Beautiful.

•The simplest way to instill positive behavior in your children is by setting a good example. Do this by not littering and ensuring that your children do the same. When you visit a park or beach, bring a small bag to use for litter until you have access to a public trash can.

•You can also encourage your children to take an active role in keeping the environment clean. If their school playground doesn’t have access to trash cans, kids can ask their teachers to put one out, or they could even make posters directing classmates to put litter where it belongs.

•Educate children about recycling by organizing a field trip to a recycling center. This visit will show your kids what products are recyclable and how these products can help the environment. By seeing the recycling process in person, your children will be excited to participate in recycling at home.

•Finally, seek out local events for Earth Day. These events present a great opportunity for your family to spend time together while working toward keeping the environment clean.

By instilling these principles in your children today, you are ensuring that they will enjoy the beauty of nature for years to come.