Week 2
I chose to discuss the lack of access to healthy water, as it impacts child development. As citizens of the United States, where drinking water is readily available, we tend to forget that many children in other parts of the world are lacking this valuable resource. Of all the water on the planet, only 3% is drinkable. That three percent needs to satiate billions of people.
This topic is meaningful to me because I work in Environmental Education, and have for four of the five years I’ve been teaching. When teaching older children, we spoke quite often of the deficit in drinkable water and how we can help to conserve water on a daily basis. I continue to teach conservation to my preschool students, and ways in which we can change our daily habits to help “spread the wealth” of water. (ie: turning off the water when you are brushing your teeth or washing your face.)
In India, sixteen hundred children die every day from the lack of clean water available to them. Citizens in India often have to travel miles on foot to get to a well with healthy, clean water in it. When children aren’t able to access clean, healthy water on a regular basis, it can affect their development. “Pure water helps a child‘s defenses grow stronger and perform better; giving them the protection they need during those fragile developing years.” Often, children who are subjected to unclean water sources may suffer from disease, learning disabilities, asthma, and other illnesses. Proper filtration techniques are not available to countries, such as India. In these countries, their water may also be contaminated with human bodily fluids, animals, etc.
After reviewing this information, I have become more aware of how lucky I am as a citizen of the United States in this regard. I often take advantage of my access to clean water and would like to become more aware of my usage. In addition, I want to help my preschool students develop good habits when it comes to using water. If they develop these habits now, they will be more likely to maintain them throughout their life, pass them onto their families, and even their future families.
Resources:
Clean drinking water is a major factor we face as human beings. With all the toxins and chemicals that are out there, it’s hard not to think of others who are suffering.
ReplyDeleteAs americans we certainly take a lot for granted. I doubt most people realize how lucky we are to have clean drinking water available to us at all times. I think water conservation is a great topic to introduce to preschoolers. Just like the importance of recycling, the sooner we can make it a habit it will eventually just be a natural part of our day. Thanks for the additional resources.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI love your attitude about the importance of recycling and conservation. After working in Environmental Education for two years, I worked in a school a that did not have recycling within the building. I took it upon myself to set up bins in my classroom and teach my fifth grade students the importance of recycling and it became a part of our daily routine. When my principal saw my recycling bins he said to me; "This is not nature school."
As teachers, it is important that we teach our students to be good global citizens. I was not attempting to force my ideals on children, but to assist them in developing healthy habits.
Thank you so much for your comments. I've been enjoying reading your responses and opinions!
Raina
Great post. Like you said we often take our clean water for granite. it was sad to hear about the children dieing from like of clean water.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. You have brought up a topic that most people don't really think about as a problem because like you stated here in the United States we are lucky. I couldn't imagine what it would be like not to have clean water. I love your attitude about recycling and water conservation. In Early Head Start we try to recycle as much as we can. We show families how to recycle in many different ways.
ReplyDelete