Three Ways to Teach Your Children About Energy Usage

Disclosure: This is a guest post.

You use energy in your home every time you flip on the lights or cook a pizza in the oven. For your kids, using energy is a part of their everyday lives. However, you want to teach them how to use energy properly and safely without waste.

You know that children learn more effectively when they are interested and engaged. Here are three ways that you can creatively teach your kids all about energy usage.

Be Practical
Your kids aren't paying the electric and gas bills, so it's normal for them to feel disconnected and not really understand the whole process. Kids love hands-on learning, so take the time to inform them in fun and practical ways.

In the morning, walk your kids out to the electric usage meter, and show them the meter again in the evening so they can see how much energy was used. You can even make a game out of trying to use a little less energy each day.

Even young children can start understanding the bigger picture of energy usage. You don't need to scare your kids, but it's great to talk to them about the impact of their daily activities on the environment. Whether your family is helping the planet by picking up trash at the park, switching to re-usable water bottles or carefully turning off the lights when leaving a room, no one is too young to make a difference.

Stay Connected
Your older kids are likely already plugged in to social media, so take advantage of the benefits of this platform. Parents can use their social media accounts to follow Sentry Energy Production and other energy companies. When you read something that interests you about how energy is used and/or conserved, invite your kids to look at the post with you.

If your kids come up with questions about energy, don't be afraid to interact with companies on their social media accounts. Social media is all about company/client interactions, so use this platform to increase your family's awareness knowledge.

Offer Incentives
It's one thing to talk about proper energy usage, but its another thing to see these principles in action. If your family isn't quite as excited about living a green lifestyle as you are, consider offering incentives. 

When there is a goal in mind, your family members will be encouraged to work together as a team, and enthusiasm is contagious. The right incentives will look different for each family. Keep in mind that an incentive doesn't have to be big or expensive to be motivational. Some families might be motivated by the promise of a day at the beach, while other kids will work hard to earn a family movie night or a trip to the ice cream store. 

In order to track your progress, consider making a chart to hang on the refrigerator or display in another central location. Everyone wins when you are able to use energy as efficiently as possible!