TUCSON, Ariz. — Kids and parents alike sang songs, clapped along and participated in magic and music at the Tucson Children’s Museum Saturday afternoon – all in the name of being kind to the Earth.

“Planet Kindness,” a show put on by international performers Peter and Mary, showed children how to take care of the planet through songs and puppets.

Peter Jansen and Mary Kingsley, based in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, tour around the U.S. and Canada teaching and entertaining children and seniors alike. They used puppets for this show to help convey to children the importance of resource conservation.

After first snapping their fingers and then lightly slapping their thighs to simulate the sound of rain, Kingsley introduced one of the puppets, Verna the Vegetarian Vulture, who “spoke” to the kids about water conservation.

When Kingsley asked Verna what advice she might give to the children about conserving water, the feisty vulture said, “When you take a bath, take a bath with a friend!” Giggles followed.

Kingsley spoke to the kids about the importance of water conservation by using a little magic.

Kingsley poured some water into a small styrofoam cup while she gave the audience facts about the planet’s water, including that only small percentage of Earth’s water is drinkable. She brought out another small cup and poured the water from one into the other.

She then brought up a volunteer, a boy named Daniel, to stand under the cup as she told the crowd she would pour what’s left of the water onto his head. He flinched, but the cup was empty. The kids giggled at Daniel’s reaction.

“That’s the worst thing that can happen,” Kingsley said. “It’s here today and gone tomorrow.”

The object behind the puppets and magic is to make the program fun, so they are learning – without realizing it sometimes, she said later.

Jansen said they try to teach them and keep it light at the same time.
Kingsley agreed, adding, “When you have a younger group, you can’t get too technical.”

The duo have been singing and performing for children and seniors all over the world since 1974, when they decided to team up while both were in Bermuda, Kingsley said.

Both are dedicated to promoting environmental awareness.

Jansen said they organized the big Earth Day festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for 15 years, planning events for the more than 30,000 people that would come out for the one-day celebration.

They are still involved with the festival, but now travel, along with their dog Maggie, to entertain and inform.

“We thought it was time to pass the torch and see what (the new organizers) come up with,” Jansen said.

While not all of their shows are conservation oriented, he said, “We especially like doing an environmental program for little children because they are the future.”

Back home in St. Albert, they perform at many schools and libraries.

“Any chance we get to teach about the environment to kids, we do,” Jansen said. Even while still organizing the Earth Day festival, he put out a tip sheet that was distributed to hundreds of schools.

Because their show requires so much equipment, the couple must drive a large vehicle, which Jansen said he feels a bit guilty about. To counter the vehicle's carbon emissions, Jansen and Kingsley have planted about 300 trees "so far" around the Provincial Museum of Alberta.

Jansen has done so much for the conservation movement, he was honored with the 1998 Emerald Award for Individual Commitment by the Alberta Emerald Foundation, an organization that aims to promote environmental awareness through the awards.

“It’s not about getting the award,” he said. “Getting the award brings more attention to what you won it for.”

Kingsley, whose real name is Jansen agreed, saying winning such an award gives one’s word more weight when speaking about conservation.

With songs like “Kindness (for you and me)” and “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” and magic emphasizing the plight of the endangered Mexican Grey Wolf, the kids were sure to be infused with more knowledge about being kind to their planet.

Tucson mom Marina Warner said she brought her children to the show because they like to listen and play music at home.

She also found the theme attractive. Her New Year’s resolution last year was to recycle more and, living in Catalina, Ariz., “you have to want to recycle out there,” because there is no pick-up service.

Warner said she liked the message that Peter and Mary delivered. She said her kids have become more aware of recycling and the environment through home and school.

“I liked how they involved the kids,” she added. “It makes it memorable and a more valuable memory.”