WATER
BATHTIME: To make bath time more fun and still teach your child about the element of water, try these tricks:
Use blue food coloring or prepackaged blue bath tablets for kids. Scent the water with lotus or magnolia. The kids will be begging for bath time!
Talk about the animals who live in the sea as the kids play with their bath-toy fishes, turtles, and dolphins. Don't forget the silkies, harpies, and mer-people!
Every time Devon gets ready to get out of the bath, we say, "Bye-bye water; thank you water," as we watch the bath water swirl down the drain. Sometimes he'll even kiss the water!
PRACTICAL WATER LESSONS: Every child should learn about water and how to respect it, not just Pagan Children. Here are some of my ideas on what every child should know about water:
Learn about the cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation by making a "cloud" inside a jar, using boiling water and the steam rising from it. Chances are, if you do this activity with very young children, they will have a head start on third and fourth grade science! Compare what they've learned about this cycle with the cycles of the moon, or of life, or of reincarnation.
Gather several containers of different sizes and shapes, and pour water in and out of them, showing how the water will take whatever shape the container is. It's amazing to little kids to see the properties of water in action!Show how, with the help of the element of fire, water can turn into steam, which can be likened to air. Then show how when it's put into the freezer, it turns into ice, which can be likened to earth. Water is truly a wonderful element! Perhaps that is why it is the element of the emotions, speaking of which...Here's a good lesson about anger: Show your child how water boils, and how the hotter it gets, the closer it comes to boiling over. Just when it's about to boil over (like we can do when we are very angry), take it off the heat and watch as the water level slowly goes back down. (This trick works especially well when making instant macaroni and cheese.) Explain that sometimes, we have to remove ourselves from the situation which is making us "boil over" in order to calm down and deal with the anger constructively.
Most of our Earth is made of water and it seems like we'll never run out, but even so, we must learn to do things to make sure it stays around forever. Here are some things we can do to keep the water cycle going smoothly:
Remember to turn the water off when brushing your teeth. It doesn't need to be running the whole time! Never throw trash into pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. It makes the fishies sick, and it can make us sick too. Opt for canoes and sailboats over motor boats. It takes more work, but it develops skill and self-discipline. It also keeps the water from being polluted, prevents the chance for curious water beasties getting cut up by propeller blades, and it just fills you with more of a peaceful feeling; you don't have to yell over those loud boat motors!
Once upon a time, people used to leave big barrels out to collect rainwater for bathing, cleaning, even drinking! You could too, but Moms and Dads, be sure to get a water testing kit, and even if it's safe, boil the water first before drinking it.
Above all, have respect for water. It is a wonderful and vital element, but as with all the elements, it can be dangerous when abused. Always observe pool rules, and never swim alone or without an adult watching, especially in a lake or the ocean. Obey your Mom and Dad about bath rules too, because it is true that people have drowned on only a teaspoon of water. Water has no business being in your lungs, and if you're blowing bubbles in it and laughing at the same time, that is exactly where it could wind up! Play with water, respect water, and help protect and conserve water, and it will serve you well.Blessings,Devon's Mommy
