When it comes to water conservation, we believe it starts at home… with our children. It is so easy to teach children from the very beginning the importance of conserving one of the Earth’s most valuable resources. Together, we can build a foundation of knowledge so our children all grow up to be stewards of the Earth. Help your kids learn these five simple tips for conserving water.
1. Turn off the faucets
When brushing teeth or scrubbing their soapy hands and face, teach your children to turn off the faucet so they do not let water simply run down the drain.
2. Tightly turn off the faucets
Another important lesson for your kids, as well as for yourself, is to check the faucets in your home to make sure they are tightly turned off to avoid a small, slow drip that can waste a lot of water over time.
3. Don’t flush
Okay, if it’s number 2, they should definitely flush. But each time a toilet is flushed, it uses about 5 gallons of water. If your kids just have to go number 1, suggest they don’t flush, especially if you have lots of little ones that “go” often.
4. Bath time for babies
For safety reasons, babies should only have about an inch or two of water in their bath anyway. There is no reason to use much more than that. When your kids are old enough, switch from baths to quick showers that use less water than filling up a tub.
5. Watering the grass
Encourage your kids to collect “old” water from leftover water bottles, half-drank cups or boiling eggs, (after the water has cooled) and use it to hydrate your grass and bushes instead of turning on the sprinklers or the hose in the middle of the day. Make sure your kids understand why it’s so important to reuse water when possible instead of simply pouring unwanted water down the drain.
When you teach kids the necessity of water conservation, you’re giving them a valuable foundation to build and learn from as they grow. After all, they are the ones who we are going to look to in several years for new solutions to water shortages.
From time to time, Water – Use It Wisely features guest bloggers who write about topics related to water and water conservation. Molly Cerreta Smith serves as the editor-in-chief of Green Living Magazine, where her passions for writing and living well collide. She has served as an editor and writer for local and statewide publications as well as global websites for 15 years and counting.
Water – Use It Wisely Thanks Molly for her contribution! Another great way to get kids involved is through our newest contest. Save water with Wayne Drop, and you and your family could be off to Disneyland. The contest is open for kids ages 5-12. For more information visit wateruseitwisely.com/kids.