Saving water during the hot summer months is particularly important, as the extended hours of sunlight and infrequent rain can mean an increase in the likelihood of droughts.
As a parent, you want to do your part in educating your child on water conservation while making it into a fun activity that will carry into adulthood.
If you’re looking for ways to cut down your water bills, or just want to do your part in conserving this precious resource, we’ve compiled a few water-smart tips to reduce your overall water usage around your home this summer.
Conserving Water While Having Fun
The first and best step towards conserving water while having fun doing it is to turn it into a game, as kids live for a good game.
Try creating a bingo card, with a fun water-saving activity listed in each box. Some examples of these fun activities are:
- Turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth
- Keep your shower under 5 minutes
- Choose to have a shower instead of a bath
- Turn off the taps while you’re lathering soap when washing hands
Using Water Hoses and Sprinklers
Give these bingo cards out to your kids, and whichever child can fill up their card the fastest can win a cool prize, like a night off from chores or getting to pick the next movie on movie night.
Making water conservation into a fun game allows them to learn about the earth and its needs. Even as adults, we know how amazing it is to run around in through a sprinkler or spray a hose at another.
Although these playful activities may be fun, hoses and sprinklers use up a large amount of water in a short period of time. If you need to run your sprinkler to water a food-growing and sustainable garden, make sure that you do so for a limited time, optimally less than 15 minutes.
To ensure that your child can enjoy these classic joys of summer, get them involved in the outdoor chores that involve water and a little bit of play. If you wash your car at home, get your child to help out with hosing off the soap.
If you must water your lawn, do so with your child early in the morning or in the late evening, as the cool temperatures at these times of day help to reduce water loss to evaporation.
For both activities, make sure that you’re using a hose nozzle that has a squeeze (pistol) grip so that you can control exactly how much water you’re spraying.
Some Examples of Fun Outdoor Water Activities
Get your children to help clean their toys with a bucket of rainwater and all-natural soap.
They can get wet and have fun while learning about the importance of taking care of their things! This summer, help your kids understand the importance of water conservation while having the time of their life.