It’s more important than ever to teach your children the importance of saving energy and how their carbon footprint can affect the world around them. Energy conservation can be a boring topic for kids, but here are a few tips to help make it fun for the whole family.
- Learn together! Go to the library as a family and check out some books on energy and conservation. Finding out what electricity and energy is and where it comes from can go a long way toward helping your kids understand why it’s so important to conserve.
- Decorate a few coin jars and use them to help encourage kids to turn off lights and electrical appliances. Every time they remember to turn something off when they’re done—without being told—drop a coin in their jar. Every time they forget, they have to move one of their coins to your jar! Or do the same thing with a points system. Once they’ve earned enough cash (or points), treat them to something they love…a new toy, perhaps, or an ice cream outing.
- If your kids still take baths, help them switch to showers, as they use much less water. Make it fun by setting a timer to see if they can get squeaky clean in as little time as possible. Set a timer for yourself, as well, and give a prize to the family member who’s able to finish the quickest.
- Limit screen time—TV, computers, iPads, phones, etc.—to around 1 hour a day. Not only will this help conserve electricity, but it can help kids concentrate better on school work, and encourages bonding between your family members.
- Lower the temperature on your thermostat, and build blanket forts! Cuddling up in a fort or under blankets on the couch is a great way to stay warm while also promoting family closeness.
- Remember the game “I Spy?” Use it as a tool to help kids start recognizing energy-saving or energy-wasting items. This one is great, because you can play at home or in public—wherever energy is used.
- See if you can go electricity-free for one day a week (on days with milder weather, of course). Turn it into an adventure for your children—have them walk around with you and point out all the appliances that need to be turned off, and see if they can come up with alternate ways to accomplish everyday tasks without them. Make a picnic and play board games instead of cooking and watching TV, for instance, or tell spooky tales by candlelight.
- Most importantly, involve your kids in your household decisions regarding energy efficiency. Maybe even show them the utility bills, so they have an understanding of exactly how much it costs to use all the everyday appliances they normally don’t think about. Ask them if they have any ideas to help conserve, and see if you can implement their solutions in your home. They’ll be much more inclined to save energy if they feel they’re contributing in a significant way!