5 DOCUMENTARIES TO WATCH ON EARTH DAY
Share the Facts With Your Whole Family!
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family. Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘KIDS TAKE ACTION AGAINST OCEAN PLASTIC’ — This short five- minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick “Plastic Island” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.) ‘BRAVE BLUE WORLD: RACING TO SOLVE OUR WATER CRISIS’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix.
tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS.org or Prime Video. ‘KISS THE GROUND’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family-friendly and rated G.
None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to find time to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
‘EXTINCTION: THE FACTS’ — This hard-hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids ages 16 and up. It
How to Soothe a Sore Neck TREATING NECK TENSION STRETCH AWAY YOUR NECK PAIN. While you may not want to move your neck at all when it’s painful, the key to relief is slow movements that loosen those tense muscles. The best and easiest stretch for neck pain is to clasp your hands together behind your neck and slowly tilt your head backward, resting on your hands. Adding gentle movements, side to side or up and down, can lessen muscle stiffness. Simply avoid any abrupt, jerky movements that may increase your neck pain. TRY AN AT-HOME MASSAGE. We don’t all have the luxury of time or money to receive regular massages, but they can be done at home. Simply massage your neck to relieve some of the stored tension. Alternatively, ask a partner or friend to help you massage the aching muscles to find relief. There’s no need for fancy techniques. A simple massage can work wonders for neck stiffness. AVOID ‘TECH NECK’ BY FIXING YOUR POSTURE. Our posture can often be the ongoing cause of our neck tension. Known as “tech neck,” this silhouette is seen whenever we stare downward at our phone. We can spend hours in this position throughout the day without even realizing it. Challenge yourself to hold your phone higher and ensure your posture isn’t hunched over. Practicing good posture can not only alleviate pain but also prevent it in the long run.
Neck pain can make daily life challenging, especially if you have a stubborn stiffness that won’t go away. There are plenty of reasons you might be experiencing neck pain. Looking down at your phone, sleeping on the wrong pillow, or stress can be the culprit for a tense neck. While finding out the main reason you’re experiencing neck pain can help you prevent it in the future, you should also know how to alleviate it in the comfort of your home. APPLY HEAT FOR TENSE MUSCLES. Heat is known to help soothe sore muscles and provide immediate relief. To treat neck pain, you can use heating pads and apply them to the area experiencing the most discomfort. Some other heat methods include hot showers or baths, hot towels, or compresses. Even the tried-and-true DIY method of filling a clean sock with rice and heating it in the microwave for a few minutes can help.
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