How to Teach Children to Conserve Energy

In today's world, most of us have learned the concept and importance of conserving energy and our natural resources. We have learned that conserving energy helps to also save money. We use energy to heat and cool our homes, to transport ourselves to work and school and also for recreation. It is important that we teach our children ways to practice energy conservation.

Instructions

1. Explain to your children just how important conserving energy is. They may have heard you talk about it or mention it, but do they really understand what it means. Try giving them examples of why it is so important. There are many books that can help you explain the importance of energy conversation to your child and also give some tips on how to do it.

2. Make sure you practice what you preach. If you aren't being a good example, then your children will have no one to follow. Don't just tell them to turn off the lights when they leave the room, show them by always turning off the lights yourself.

3. Rent or find a video online about energy conversation techniques. Fun cartoon characters like the electricity lightening bug can help make learning fun and also make children take an active part in what they see.

4. If your children are older and they are not very good at conserving energy, try a one month energy experiment. While you may have to demand or bribe your children to participate, it will be well worth the effort. Show your children an electric bill and how many watts of energy your family uses in a month. Then go over ways to cut down your energy costs.

   For one month, make it a conscious effort to make sure that everyone does things like turning off lights when leaving a room, doesn't leave the television on constantly and cutting down on the amount of water that is used. If possible make it a game or a contest, with a prize for the winner at the end. After one month of energy conservation, compare the newest electric bill to the one that you used as an example before. This will allow your children to see the difference that watching how we use energy can make. Explain to them that the money saved from energy costs can be used for other things. While children may not understand energy conservation that well, the one thing most of them understand is money.

5. Remember not to expect your children to become instant energy conservationists overnight, especially if they are not used to it already. The younger you can start teaching these types of ideas and techniques to your children the better. Have patience with your children and don't give up. The more you work to teach them about conserving energy, the more they will understand.

Tips & Warnings

• The first way to help children understand about conserving energy is to lead by example. Children learn what they see. If you aren't recycling paper or turning off lights, why would you expect them to?