Celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd) with Spring Crafts

Earth Day (April 22nd) is a great day to think about different ways to care for the Earth, such as recycling, composting, and reducing waste. It is also a great day to take the time to appreciate the beauty of nature. Many elderly adults may enjoy celebrating Earth Day by spending time outdoors and in nature or by honoring nature by making a creative craft. Making crafts that utilize natural materials is a great way for elderly adults to express themselves creatively while also caring for the Earth. Here are just a few examples of some fun and easy crafts elderly adults and their caregivers can do together to celebrate Earth Day:

Leaf Printings or Rubbings

Making art with leaves is a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. Leaf art can be framed and hung on the wall or even used as wrapping paper. First, gather up some fresh green leaves found outside. To make beautiful collage-style leaf art, it is great to have a variety of leaves. To make rubbings simply lay the leaves out on a hard surface and place a piece of paper over them. Then, rub with crayon, pastels, or colored pencils. To make printings, apply paint to the leaves with a sponge or brush and then “stamp” them on to the paper.

Garden Rocks

Garden decor can add character and whimsy to the garden. An easy way to make fun garden decor at home is by painting rocks and then placing them in the soil near your plants. Try to find medium or large smooth rocks and then clean them thoroughly. Once they are clean, you and your loved one can get creative and start painting! Some fun ideas include painting the names of plants on the rocks to use as garden labels, painting creatures on the rocks such as ladybugs and caterpillars, or just painting them with bright, solid colors.

Clay Imprinting

One way to preserve the beauty of natural materials that you find outdoors is by imprinting them in clay. First, use a polymer clay in a neutral color and form it into any shape such as a small bowl or dish, circle to be used as a pendant, spherical paperweight, etc. Then take some natural items that you’ve found outdoors such as leaves, flowers, or seashells and “stamp” them into the clay. Remove the item to see that it is forever imprinted on the clay.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Blue Bell, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.