BY PATRICIA NEWMAN
Have you ever felt like the mom in this classic comic? I sure have! Summer is a time for beaches, national parks, rivers, and nature areas — not trash. That’s why I like #PlasticFreeJuly. It’s the perfect way to stay focused on an Earth Day Every Day mindset as we do the fun summer things we love to do.
But how do you celebrate #PlasticFreeJuly without depressing your kids? You Teach the Hope by connecting them to nature, helping them feel grateful for nature’s gifts, and introduce them to civic role models who are leading the way as planet protectors.
Start here
Read a selection of these books to or with your child for #PlasticFreeJuly. These titles, grouped by age, are included on my Teach the Hope reading list (link in last paragraph on my Teach the Hope page). They share important information about plastic pollution in the context of civic role models who will inspire your children to be like them. As you read, be sure to discuss with your child how these books connect us to nature and what makes him/her feel grateful.
Lower elementary
Upper elementary and middle school
Develop a family project
- Maybe you participate in a beach clean-up or audit the plastic waste you throw away (check out my Plastic, Ahoy! educator guide for guidelines on how to perform an audit).
- Perhaps you follow the journey that the plastic from your recycling can takes.
- Choose some of the ideas from the #RefuseSUP Challenge that photographer Annie Crawley and I created (see below).
- Create a presentation about single-use plastic for family and friends like sisters Gabriella and Francesca did after reading Plastic, Ahoy! and vacationing on a beach littered with plastic.
- The number of ways you can act is limitless. You’ll have lots of company. Just follow the lead of your role models.
Or step back and talk about how plastic pollution makes your child feel
Sometimes talking about the scope of plastic pollution is depressing for kids. Environmental concerns definitely bring out big feelings in kids and adults.
Why not discuss why the people in the books are civic role models? What are the personality traits that make civic role models effective? Ask your children if they know of civic role models in their lives? How do they inspire your children? Does a role model make your child feel less alone in solving the problem?
Ask your child to draw a picture or write a story about the way plastic pollution makes them feel. Try the Color Your Feelings activity that I wrote about in the April 11, 2026 issue of my Earth Day Every Day newsletter:
- The things I love about nature
- I feel the saddest when I hear about…
- I sometimes get angry when I think about…
- I get scared when I read about…
- The thing I’m most excited about getting involved in is…
Share how you celebrated #PlasticFreeJuly
I’d love to see what your family comes up with — share a photo of your project or drawing! Tag me on Instagram at @patricianewmanbooks.
Featured image credit: This image was given to me to use with permission by Emily and Grace, two 6th grade girls, who did a single-use plastic school project after reading Plastic, Ahoy! Even their clothes are made with recycled single-use plastic!
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