At Kinderland, we believe that no actions are too small and no person is too young to play their part in championing the sustainability of our environment. In 2022 alone, a whopping 7.39 million tonnes of solid waste were generated in Singapore, with over 40 per cent of it not being recycled. Hence, for Earth Day 2024, Kinderland curated a plethora of fun, educational activities to inculcate in our children the importance of doing their part for the environment. Read on below to find out more about what our little sustainability champions did this Earth Day!

Watering Neighbourhood Plants, DIY Crafts, and Planting Onions

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Marine Parade took part in a list of exciting activities to commemorate Earth Day. Equipped with water sprinklers, our young learners took part in a neighbourhood walk, working together to water plants located nearby the centre’s vicinity. The activity was truly an eye-opening experience for the children, educating them on how close they are to the environment. They also learnt how simple it can be to care for the plants, and most importantly, that caring for the environment can be a fun activity to do with their buddies!

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Marine Parade watering plants in the centre’s nearby vicinity during their neighbourhood walk

Our educators also led our children in exciting crafting sessions, making use of old magazines to create their very own origami hats. Our children showcased their creative side, producing a wide variety of designs for their origami hats. Through this, our children learnt how to repurpose old items around them into items they can utilise instead of throwing them away. Not only does this cut down on the waste we produce daily, it also fosters the imaginative interactions of our children with the items around them!

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Marine Parade posing with their handcrafted origami hats made using old magazines

Lastly, our children planted onion bulbs in used bottles. Our educators shared with them the ways to set the soil in the bottles, making a small hole in the centre of the soil to place the onion bulb, as well as how to water and care for their planted onions. This was an engaging and effective way to introduce the fundamentals of planting to our children. It also showed them that planting comes in various unique ways while requiring minimal resources and space.

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Marine Parade planting onions in used plastic bottles

Caring for the Earth with Parents

For Earth Day 2024, Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of National Development took the opportunity to involve both our children and parents in caring for the earth. Through a home-based project, they were invited to create an upcycling pot, or a planting pot made from repurposing old containers at home. Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of National Development passed our children and parents seeds and soil for them to plant in this upcycling pot, as well as to bring them to school.

Our children and parents proudly hanged their handiwork in school and took turns to care for their planted seeds, watering them in the morning and after school. This activity fosters and inculcates the love and care for the environment in our children by positioning it as a family bonding activity.

Parent and child of Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of National Development checking on the growth of their planted seeds in school

Discovering Earthworms

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of Manpower had a unique activity for their children for Earth Day – an introduction to earthworms! Our children were educated on the important role that earthworms play for the environment. This includes how they burrow through soil, allowing air, water and nutrients to penetrate deeper, improving soil structure for planting. Earthworms also play a key role in nutrient cycling. They consume organic matter such as dead plant material, and in the process, release nutrients for the soil and plants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This introduction to earthworms taught our children of the often overlooked benefits that earthworms provide to the environment.

Children of Kinderland Preschool @ Ministry of Manpower being introduced to earthworms

Using Pandan Leaves as Air Fresheners

Children of Kinderland Academy @ Yio Chu Kang had a fun time creating their very own box of natural biodegradable air fresheners using pandan leaves. They collected school-grown pandan leaves from the compounds of the academy and filled it up in a box made out of reused paper.The box can be put inside the cars of their parents, or in their rooms at home to serve as air fresheners. Our children were also given a book, “The Missing Leaves”, which shares more on the variety of uses of pandan leaves. Through the day’s activities, our children learnt how to make use of the nature around them, such as pandan leaves, instead of buying disposable products such as air fresheners, cutting down on waste.

Children of Kinderland Academy @ Yio Chu Kang filling up their air freshener boxes with pandan leaves

As we wrap up our Earth Day celebrations, we are filled with joy seeing how much our little ones have learned about caring for our planet. We cannot wait to have them back for more fun and learning on next year’s Earth Day as we continue our journey to protect and cherish our environment together!