| Teaching your children to be environmentally | | | | of water each year. How much water is three |
| responsible is sometimes a difficult task. Helping | | | | thousand gallons? Well, an average person drinks |
| them understand not only HOW to protect our | | | | about sixteen thousand gallons of water over |
| resources, but WHY we do so is vital for them to | | | | their lifetime so three thousand gallons is about |
| continue the habits when they are older. | | | | fifteen year's worth of water for a single person. |
| Conserving water is a somewhat abstract idea, | | | | Children don't just want a drink of water when |
| especially for younger children and it can be hard | | | | they are thirsty. They want COLD water. The |
| for them to understand. Here are five ways you | | | | typical way to get a cold glass of water is to run |
| can help you child understand why and how they | | | | the tap until the water is cold and then fill a glass. |
| can make a difference in their water consumption | | | | Teach your children how much water this wastes |
| habits. | | | | by placing a bucket under the tap and running it |
| A timer in the bathroom can make kid's showers | | | | as you would to get a cold glass of water. How |
| not just time to wash up, but a race to beat the | | | | many drinks did your child pour down the drain to |
| clock. However, children won't really understand | | | | get one glass of water? A pitcher, water bottle, |
| how much water they are saving. How to teach | | | | or water dispenser kept in the fridge will allow |
| them? Simple, after a typical five minute shower | | | | your child the opportunity to get a cold glass of |
| have the child get out of the shower but leave | | | | water without allowing the tap to run. |
| the water running into a large container. Let the | | | | Children are happy to help wash the car because |
| shower run for another five minutes, switching | | | | it offers them a chance to play outside with the |
| out containers as necessary. Then you can show | | | | hose. However, running the hose wastes an |
| your child a visual picture of how much water is | | | | enormous amount of water. Teach your children |
| wasted when their shower is ten minutes instead | | | | how to wash your car with two buckets, a soapy |
| of five. The collected water can be used to wash | | | | one and a rinse one to allow them to help out |
| dishes, water plants, or wash your car. In order | | | | without letting water run down the driveway and |
| for your child to get truly clean in a five minute | | | | sidewalk. Likewise, instead of letting your children |
| shower, you might need to make them a | | | | play in the sprinkler, invest in an inflatable pool that |
| checklist so they remember to rinse the shampoo | | | | you can fill with enough water to allow your |
| out of the hair for example! | | | | children to enjoy the summer sun. As an added |
| The Environmental Protection Agency estimates | | | | benefit, when they are tired of the pool, you can |
| that turning the water off when brushing your | | | | use the leftover water to water your garden, |
| teeth saves an estimated three thousand gallons | | | | houseplants, or shrubs. |