Even though Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 this year, we can all foster a loving, respectful, and reciprocal relationship with our home planet each and every day.
After all, as the Native American proverb goes: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
While our primary goal here at The Filtery is to provide non-toxic resources from a human-health angle, the reality is that human health and environmental health are one and the same. They are intricately connected: as the planet is polluted, so are our own bodies. What harms Earth also harms us.
Although humans have tried to separate ourselves from the Earth in our language, in our approach to commerce, and more, the truth is that we are nature.
And while doing our best to avoid toxic chemicals in the products we buy and use on a daily basis is extremely important to healing and preventing long-term illnesses, we cannot forget how healing a connection with nature can be, too.
When our decisions (whether it be about the products we buy, the words we choose, or the way we treat other living beings around us) are motivated by love and respect (instead of shame, fear, or guilt), we’re so much more likely to be happier and prevent burnout in the long run.
So, for this Earth Day, we’ve picked out our favorite quotes that are inspiring, hopeful, and encourage a love of nature. Of course, we chose these specific quotes with the youngest global citizens in mind, but these powerful words can inspire anyone of any age!
(P.S. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom for some fun Earth Day activity ideas to do with the whole family, too!)
Table of Contents
22 of the Best Earth Day Quotes for Kids
1. “I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” — Greta Thunberg
2. “The earth is what we all have in common.” — Wendell Berry
3. “In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer
4. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu
5. “I want to stand by the river in my finest dress. I want to sing, strong and hard, and stomp my feet with a hundred others so that the waters hum with our happiness. I want to dance for the renewal of the world.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer
6. “In nature nothing exists alone.” ― Rachel Carson
7. “Take only what you need and leave the land as you found it.” — Arapaho Proverb
8. “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” — Albert Einstein
9. “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer
10. “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” — John Muir
11. “Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair.” — Kahlil Gibran
12. “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
— Roald Dahl
13. “He that plants trees loves others besides himself.” — Thomas Fuller
14. “Thunder, Thunder, listen with wonder. Can you hear our relative the wind? The wind is singing a soothing song.” ― Jeffrey Ansloos
15. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
16. “One individual cannot possibly make a difference, alone. It is individual efforts, collectively, that makes a noticeable difference—all the difference in the world!” — Dr. Jane Goodall
17. “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir
18. “The land knows you, even when you are lost.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer
19. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Ghandi
20. “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
21. “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” ― David Attenborough
22. “Hold on to what is good, even if it’s a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, even if it’s a long way from here.” — Crowfoot
15 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With the Whole Family
- Build a natural playspace.
- Tie-dye some old clothes using plants.
- If it’s a rainy day, try a climate action puzzle.
- Plant some seeds.
- Go on a neighborhood cleanup. Take a trash bag and some gloves and go pick up litter around your home.
- Make botanical popsicles! (With non-toxic popsicle molds, of course.)
- Or botanical cookies.
- Go on a bike ride, a hike, or just a walk around the neighborhood, making sure to notice the different plants and critters around you as you go.
- Do some Earth Day-themed yoga together.
- Draw some nature-inspired murals with sidewalk chalk.
- Make bird feeders. (Just make sure you do a little research about the birds in your area first to make sure there aren’t any specific ingredients you should avoid!)
- Start a compost.
- Make a painting using stamps from nature.
- Make an Earth Day suncatcher.
- Read a few Earth Day-themed books.
