Observed every year on March 22, World Water Day is a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Each year, the United Nations sets a specific theme for World Water Day to highlight a particular aspect of freshwater management. Visit www.worldwaterday.org to learn how you and your family can make a difference by changing how you use, consume, and manage water.
Here are five kid-friendly ways to have fun on World Water Day and learn more about the importance of freshwater resources in the process.
1. Talk about ways to conserve water.
Small changes can make a big difference. For example, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water per day for a family of four. This adds up to nearly 3,000 gallons of water saved per year!
If you are planning a garden or landscaping project, consider using plants that will thrive in Colorado's arid climate with less water.
Need ideas? Visit the Colorado Garden at Hudson Gardens, featuring colorful, drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly plants. Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street has 18 different Gardens of the West.
2. Play water games.
Hold a relay race while holding cups full of water to see who can reach the finish line first without spilling. Have a water balloon toss in the backyard. Play "Duck, Duck, Goose," but say "Drip, Drip, Splash" instead. Fill your bathtub and gather household items to see if you can guess which will sink and which will float. You could even bob for apples!
3. Take a virtual water tour around the world.
The Voyager feature in the Google Earth app is an incredible way to explore and learn about various environmental and cultural topics.
To access this feature, open the app and click on the Voyager icon in the menu bar to go to the Voyager home screen. You can also use the Search feature, then look under the Guided Tours section.
Some of the water-themed tours include:
- Coral Reefs of the World: Presented in partnership with The Ocean Agency, you can explore 13 of the most diverse and fascinating coral reefs around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Central America, and the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia.
- Oceans: Learn about the unique features of each ocean, the diverse array of marine life that calls it home, and the threats facing the ocean ecosystem.
- Rivers of the World: Presented in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, take a virtual journey down some of the world's most important rivers, such as the Congo River in Africa and the Yangtze River in China.
- Waterways of the World: Presented in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, it features some of the world's most famous rivers and waterways, along with each water resource's history, culture, and environmental impact.
- Wildlife of the Wetlands: Presented in partnership with The Jane Goodall Institute, this tour features ten different wetlands, including the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Pantanal in Brazil, and the Everglades in the United States.
4. Read water-themed books.
Books are fantastic tools for teaching kids about the importance of water and inspiring them to take action to protect our freshwater resources. Here are some more water-themed books for kids:
- Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul (Ages 2-5): A poetic picture book exploring the different phases of the water cycle, from steam to snowflakes, in surprising and engaging ways.
- Water Dance by Thomas Locker (Ages 4-7): From a peaceful mountain pond to a raging waterfall, this book celebrates water in all its glorious forms through art and poetry.
- All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon (Ages 4-8): This book uses beautiful illustrations and lyrical text to explore the many forms water takes and how it shapes our world.
- Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner (Ages 5-8): This book celebrates the forms of life that live above and under a pond, including turtles, red-winged blackbirds, blue herons, minnows, frogs, and catfish.
- The Ocean: Exploring Our Blue Planet by Miranda Krestovnikoff (Ages 6-9): This eye-catching book features fascinating facts and stories about the world's deepest seas and oceans.
- One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss (Ages 8-12): Discover the many ways water is used around the world and what kids can do to protect it.
5. Have a family movie night.
Some of my family's favorite kid-friendly movies are set in or near water. The animation for water is so advanced that sometimes it's hard to tell animated water from the real thing! Revisit an old favorite or try one you've never seen, such as:
- Dolphin Tale (PG)
- Finding Nemo (G) and Finding Dory (PG)
- Free Willy (PG)
- The Little Mermaid (G)
- Moana (PG)
- Ponyo (G)
- Shark Tale (PG)
