Teaching kids to conserve water

Ask a handful of parents of small children how many times they’ve found a bathroom faucet running full stream with no one in sight, and their answers will probably surprise you. With a 5 year old and a 12 year old, I’m always reminding my kids to conserve water by shutting the faucet off. Here are a few family-friendly ideas for teaching your kids about water conservation. Have a family discussion about the importance of clean water for all of us. Depending on the age of your children, this conversation will range in depth. Be sure to mention the importance of conserving water for both humans and wildlife. Let your kids brainstorm to come up with creative ways to conserve water. Suggest that they turn the water off while brushing their teeth and not fill the bathtub to the very top. Encouraging your kids to come up with their own ideas for saving water will make the process of water conservation much more meaningful to them. Allowing your kids to help in the garden or with your houseplants will also help them to understand the value of conserving water. Seeing firsthand that plants require water to live and that they will wilt without it by helping with the gardening is a good hands-on experience.