We all know that water is a limited resource and we need to do our part to preserve it, but it’s not always easy for kids to grasp the importance of water conservation. The best way to encourage kids to conserve is by explaining the significance of their efforts, modeling good water conservation at home and making the experience positive & exciting.
Help your little Jack & Jill’s save a pail of water with these 5 fun & easy steps:
1. Place a timer in the bathroom! Bathrooms revolve around water, so it’s a great room to work on conservation. Encourage kids to brush their teeth for two minutes, but while the water is off. Start the timer and encourage a 5-minute-or-less shower.
2. Use muscles, rather than water pressure, for cleaning. Turn music on and have your little helpers use a broom instead of a watering hose to clean off sidewalks, driveways & decks. Dispose of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash (or compost bin if applicable). Only run the dishwasher & washing machine when you have full loads.
3. Let them play detective. Tell your kids to regularly check all faucets and tell someone if they ever see a leak, or if an offender didn’t thoroughly turn off a faucet. Reward their policing skills with their favorite movie, dinner or board game choice!
4. Purchase a rain barrel to collect rainwater. Kids will love watering plants with water that they collected. Allow them to paint the water barrel with flowers, birds and bug designs.
5. Make a game with the water bill. As a family, sit down and talk about a goal for your water consumption. Each month highlight the water use on the bill and put it on the fridge. Kids can see a tangible number and will be mindful of working toward the objective. Keep positive, and remind them of ways to reduce water. Be sure to celebrate when you hit the target number and encourage the conservation year-round.
Be sure to praise your young water stewards and to let them know that they are making a positive impact on the environment and that every little effort can have a big impact!
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1 comment:
Good practice starts at home. :’) If parents teach their children solutions in order to conserve water, kids will definitely apply it to other places as well. No matter where they are – be it in school or at the mall -- they will remember how important water is. Thus, they will do their parts to conserve it. :)
Lorenza Coon
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