Fostering Water Conservation in the Early Years
Helping Young Children to Develop Water Saving Habits at Home
Jun 16, 2009
While young children find water irresistible and can learn much through water play, they also need to respect it as a precious and limited resource. In preschools, children sing songs, listen to stories and carry out projects on water conservation. At home, opportunities abound for the young child to come into contact with water, and parents can use these occasions to exercise care over how water is used. Parents and children can make every drop count in carrying out their daily routines.
Turn Taps Off
Always turn taps off completely after use so that they do not drip. Check for faucet, pipe and toilet leaks. Young children who are easily attuned to small details will enjoy helping parents to look for such leaks, or to hear for the sound of a drip. Fix all leaks immediately. A drop of water lost per second is equivalent to a yearly wastage of 7,000 litres!
Save Water When Washing Hands
While it is clearly important to maintain personal hygiene at home, be mindful that water does not run unnecessarily. When washing children’s hands, use water just to wet their hands. When soaping their hands, ensure that they are well scrubbed, but the tap remains turned off. Turn on the tap again when it is time to rinse the hands.
A Water Conscious Way of Brushing Teeth
For brushing the child’s teeth, fill a cup with water. Dip the toothbrush into the cup to wet it. Brush the child’s teeth thoroughly. Have the child rinse with the cup of water. Use the rest of the water to rinse the toothbrush.
Model and Check on Water Usage
The child should see the adults do the same when they wash their hands or brush their teeth. Imitation is a powerful learning tool in the early years. Similarly, when the child is able to perform these activities independently, check that he or she does so without water wastage. Up to fifteen litres of water per minute is consumed when taps run.
Water Saving Tips at Bath and Shower Time
When bathing children, do not fill baths to the full. One-third or half full is more than enough. Consider as well saving the bath water (also known as gray water) for watering plants, for example. When showering children, again use water to wet the body and to rinse off the soap. While children enjoy playing under the shower, it is also recommended that parents keep showers down to three to five minutes. Use an egg timer to help children shower within the time limit.
Water Saving Tips for Toilet Usage
Ensure that toilets are only flushed when necessary. Check that children dispose of waste such as tissue in the rubbish bin rather than have that flushed down the toilet.
Water Play at Home
If parents find that their children enjoy water play, and many children do, let them do so at bath time using bath water. Provide them with different containers which they can fill up and pour from one to another . They can watch in fascination as the water takes on the shape of its new container. They can pour through a funnel. They can whisk soapy water, and play with bubbles. They can squeeze a sponge or wring a towel dry. Turkey basters, syringes and droppers are also fun for drawing in and expelling water. There is no need for water toys that waste water such as squirt toys and water balloons.
Family Discussions on Water Consumption
Read water meters on a regular basis to track the family’s water consumption. If the child has literacy and numeracy skills, he or she can help to record and chart the usage. Look at how the water has been consumed and work out ways to further ensure that everyone uses water wisely at home.
In short, a water conscious family can help children learn from a young age to conserve water. These children will grow up to be adults who appreciate how precious water is. They will use water wisely.
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