Getting your kids to do their homework, pick up after themselves around the house, or do their weekly chores can be hard enough, nevermind trying to get them to recycle. And since recycling is something to be encouraged for years to come, it's important to instill this environmental responsibility in kids when they are young. But how can you do this without it becoming an unpleasant task?

One of the easiest ways is to turn recycling into a game. If your child loves the outdoors, play a recycling-related game at your local park. If your kid is tech-savvy, find an interactive online game or a fun documentary about the recycling process for them to watch. There are plenty of fun ways to turn recycling into a positive notion without them thinking of it as a "chore." Below are some ideas for you to consider.

Treasure Hunt

"One man's trash is another man's treasure" and what kid doesn't love treasure? Take your kids to your local park or beach and arrange for a treasure hunt with the aim of the game: to find as many recyclable items as possible. If you want to make it even more exciting, considering renting or buying a child-size metal detector. Either way, a treasure hunt is a perfect way to get your kids excited about cleaning up their environment.

Online Recycling Sorting Game 

This generation was practically born with iPads in their hands, so when it comes to teaching your tech-savvy children about recycling, online games seems like a great way to go. Turtle Diary is just one example of an online sorting game to consider having your kids play. In this interactive game, players drag and drop items on the conveyor belt sorting them into three containers: compost, recycle, or trash. As well as for your kids, games like this might also teach you a thing or two about sustainability.

Recycling-Related Movies and Books

Plan a day out to the library and have your kids pick out a movie or book about recycling. Think movies like "Wall-E" that depicts the life of a trash-collecting robot, a film that your kids will actually want to watch or "Happy Feet," which will teach them soft lessons about pollution and the endangered Antarctic animals.