The Hunt For Water

This week is full of opportunity to have fun with your children while they hunt for water! This game is such a great way to introduce awareness and action to your children while they help the environment.

Water is sadly wasted everyday. We are not always paying attention to what is around us to see how water is being wasted in small and large ways. Ask your children to try to find ways to save water everyday this week and weekend.

For example, do they hear any leaks in your house? That kitchen faucet in the middle of the night? If so, your child can inform you of one successful find on this Hunt for Water and you can get that leak fixed.

Another great example is for your child to keep an eye out while you are on a trip this weekend for any wasted water, such as those large fountains in the middle of malls, plazas, and especially found in Las Vegas. Hopefully these fountains continually use the same water, but might it be better to use that water for another purpose. Your child can be a detective on the Hunt For Water by speaking with the manager at the location of the fountain to find out if this water is reused and if there might be a better purpose for that water. This teaches your child advocacy skills as well - of course you will be with your child to help with this conversation. Your child can even write a letter if s/he is not ready to speak up at this point in their development.

Another example is unfinished food thrown in the trash. It is estimated that uneaten food wastes more water than gardening and washing combined. The amount of water it takes to grow vegetables, fruit, nourish cows, etc... is much more than we know. When we don't finish our food and throw it out, we are wasting all of that water. Your children can help on the Hunt For Water by ensuring the grocery list has only what will be eaten, finishing their meals with portion sizes they can manage, and donating any food to those in need rather than throwing it out. Composting can help to turn leftover produce into a help for the earth as well.

So, now that you have some ideas, get started and see what else your child finds on the Hunt For Water this week!