Celebrating World Environment Day for kids is a valuable opportunity to teach our children about caring for the planet they will one day inherit. For single mothers like you and me, it’s also a chance to turn everyday parenting into powerful, purpose-driven learning. While raising children alone comes with unique challenges, our unique situation also allows us to shape their values in meaningful ways.
On June 5, 2025, the world will come together to observe World Environment Day. It's the perfect moment for our children to take part in small, practical actions that make a big difference, starting in our homes, neighbourhoods, and communities.
Further reading: Clean Up Australia Day: Amazing Ways to Involve Kids
Teaching Children About World Environment Day 2025
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 and is celebrated annually on June 5. It has since become one of the most significant global platforms for environmental outreach, involving millions of people across over 150 countries starting in 1973.
Each year, World Environment Day focuses on a different theme. In 2025, the UN set the specific theme to “Ending Plastic Pollution." Plastic pollution is a critical issue affecting our oceans, wildlife, food systems, and even human health. Plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time. But the good news is that everyone, including families, can take action.
To learn more about this global event, visit the World Environment Day website.
How to Commemorate World Environment Day with Children as a Single Mum
Here are several practical and age-appropriate actions you can take to mark this day with your children while instilling eco-conscious habits.
Nature Walk and Clean-Up
Take your child on a walk through a local park, beach, or nature reserve and collect litter along the way. This not only cleans the area but also teaches children about the impact of pollution on local ecosystems.
Plastic-Free Picnic
Organise a simple picnic using reusable containers, cutlery, and cloth napkins. Involve your child in preparing the food and packing the items. It’s a fun way to show how simple everyday choices can reduce waste and promote conservation.
Story Time with Nature Books
Choose age-appropriate resources to help kids learn about nature, animals, biodiversity, and the environment. Some excellent picture books focus on ocean pollution or the life cycle of plastics. Primary school kids love animals, so definitely look for books on marine life. Reading together can open conversations about responsibility and care for the Earth. You can also download worksheets to accompany your books for added activities.
Recycling Craft Projects
Use recyclable materials, such as bottles, cardboard, or fabric scraps, to create crafts or toys. Children love being hands-on, and this activity can help them understand the concept of reusing and repurposing rubbish. This help plant the seeds of restoration in their young minds.
Visit a Local Farmers’ Market
Introduce your child to the idea of reducing packaging waste by shopping at a farmers’ market. Bring your own bags and containers, and talk about where food comes from and why buying local matters for sustainable development.
World Environment Day for Kids (cont.)
Watch an Educational Documentary Together
For slightly older children, a short documentary or educational video that highlight pollution and other environmental issues can be an eye-opener. Choose age-appropriate content and discuss it afterward to reinforce learning. Thankfully, there are heaps of kid-friendly documentaries on how non-biodegradable materials contribute to climate change and the harm they pose on the habitats of other animal species.
Create a “No Plastic” Challenge at Home
Try going a day (or even just a few hours) without using single-use plastic. Turn it into a fun challenge for your child. Use this as a springboard to raise awareness and action, and discuss alternatives and new habits.
Make Reusable Items Together
Simple projects like decorating canvas shopping bags or making beeswax wraps can be enjoyable for kids and useful for your household. These items help replace plastic bags and cling wrap. There are heaps of free videos on YouTube for this!
Start a Mini Herb Garden
Use old containers as planters to grow herbs or small vegetables. It’s a great way to teach sustainability, patience, and care for living things. Plus, it reduces the need for plastic-packaged produce. Through this, you can also teach them how to save water.
Join a Community Event
Check if your local government or community groups is hosting any World Environment Day initiatives or festivals. Many events welcome families and offer child-friendly experiences that highlight the importance of protecting nature, such as storytelling, gardening sessions, scavenger hunts, or art, poster or slogan workshops. If feasible, your family can also pledge or donate to Australian ecological organisations.
Beating Plastic Pollution Beyond World Environment Day Celebration
While World Environment Day serves as an annual reminder, the effort to reduce plastic pollution is ongoing. Here are a few sustainable habits single mums can adopt and model for our children year-round:
- Switch to reusable shopping bags, bottles, and containers.
- Choose unpackaged or minimally packaged food when possible.
- Buy second-hand toys and clothes to reduce plastic waste.
- Support businesses with eco-conscious practices.
- Encourage schools and childcare centres to reduce plastic use.
- Involve your child in sorting recycling and composting at home.
- Promote water conservation at home.
Teaching our children to respect and protect the environment doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins with consistent, mindful actions in everyday life.
Further reading: 9 Earth Month Activities for a Better Planet
Conclusion: Celebrating World Environment Day with Kids
As single mothers, we are not only caregivers; we are role models. Doing World Environment Day activities with your child offers more than a fun activity, with the help of these fantastic resources. It’s an opportunity to plant seeds of actionable environmental responsibility that can grow for a lifetime.
By taking small steps to reduce plastic pollution and involving our children in these efforts, we are helping to create a cleaner, healthier world for the future generations — one home, one habit, and one child at a time.
Let this 5 June 2025 be a starting point for long-term change, both in our families and in our communities.
