20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth

You may have left the house today with the television still on, kept the water running while you brushed your teeth or even walked past some litter on your way to the office. Whether you realize it or not, the waste adds up. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Americans produced over 505 million tons of trash just in 2008. Your daily habits impact the environment, but there is still time to reverse the damage and preserve our home for future generations. It doesn’t take inventing a new energy powered car or setting up a wind farm to prevent damage to the Earth; just a few simple gestures can go a long way in making the Earth a little greener.

Youth soccer coach and eco-conscious citizen Coach Pedro Rita, believes teaching children to make simple changes in their daily lives may be the answer to saving the Earth from the destruction of past generations. In his new children’s book, 20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth (Author House, September 2008), Coach Pedro shows kids how their actions can affect their homes and communities and offers them easy-to-use, Earth-saving tips to inspire and empower our youth to protect the environment.

“I made a team rule that we were not to leave any trash behind,” explains Coach Pedro, who noticed the soccer fields littered with trash. “It’s all about doing those little things that make a huge impact on the environment.”

20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth is full of situations kids encounter on a daily basis and takes a proactive approach to modeling new behaviors and attitudes that eco-conscious children can adopt. From tried-and-true suggestions such as recycling bottles and cans to innovative ideas like using rainwater for watering household plants, kids are encouraged to do their part and share their enthusiasm for conservation with others.

“We have found that children are very influential,” Coach Pedro says. “There’s a tendency for children to learn a behavior and in turn teach their family.”

Written in both English and Spanish, Coach Pedro hopes to reach kids in Hispanic communities, the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, all while teaching them something they can be proud of when sharing their knowledge with friends, parents and educators.

20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth encourages children to:

* Pick up their trash before leaving an outdoor area
* Conserve water and only use it when needed
* Turn off lights and video games when not being used
* Plant trees and flowers to help the climate

I'm a firm believer that you are never too young to start caring for the planet so was so excite when we received this delightful book courtesy of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists and have read it at least once a day since we got it! Sierra loves the bright illustrations and this book has helped her so much in her reading. For kids who aren't yet reading, the illustrations show all the ways that we can help the Earth. Written in both English and Spanish, it's also helped her in her desire to learn a 2nd language. But of course, the most important thing is that it is helping to learn new ways that she can help Save the Earth!

This is a must read for any and all children. Retails for $12.10 at your local bookstore!