April 22 is Earth Day, and it is a great opportunity to teach children about recycling and respecting our planet.  It is also a wonderful reason to get outside and enjoy nature.  One of my favorite things to do with my boys, now that the weather is getting warmer, is to create art using homemade sidewalk paint.  It is a lot of fun and very easy to make with just three ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.  Just mix together ¼ cup cornstarch, ¼ cup water, and 8 drops of food coloring.  We make four or five colors, grab some sponge brushes, and use the pavement in front of our house as our giant canvas.   Looking for more ideas for celebrating Earth Day?  Why not try some of these simple and inexpensive options?  1)   Make an "earth" themed snack like the adorable Earth Day Cookies by Canadian Living that you can find here.   2)  Play board games by candlelight.   (Just be careful not to leave any candles unattended… especially with little ones around.) 3)   Read a book or watch a movie about nature.  (We like “The Lorax” by Dr.Suess.  It has a great message about how important it is for every person to care about what happens to our planet.) 4)  Make a craft from recycled materials.  (e.g. You can make a caterpillar from an old egg carton, a puppet theatre from an old box, or a telescope from an empty paper towel tube.  If you need some help, you can find some "how tos" here.) 5)  Make an obstacle course using things you have around the house.  (Just get outside and let your children use their imaginations.) 6)   Go for a walk, hike, or bike ride on a local trail. Do you have any plans to celebrate Earth Day with your family?  ♥ Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)