Saving energy saves you money. But if you have kids at home, it can be a challenge to get energy saving practices in motion. Try these six easy ways to get your children excited about saving electricity.

Educate them

Teach your kids how electricity works and the importance of saving energy. Touchstone Energy’s Kids Energy Zone is a great resource that you can use at home. There are videos, coloring pages, activity sheets, games and stories to help make learning about energy fun!

Plan electricity-free nights

Once a week, set aside time to be electricity-free with your kids. Plan to have a family game night and spend the evening playing their favorite board game. Make a point to go outside and play during the evening. Or head out on the town to attend a local festival, fair, concert or other event. It doesn’t really matter what you do, the point is to turn off the TV and make energy saving special for your kids.

Do energy saving projects with your kids

Get your kids involved every time you do something that saves energy. If you hang your laundry out to dry instead of using the dryer, cook in a slow cooker instead of the oven or change out your air filter, make sure your children understand how that helps save energy.

Create no-power dinners

Call your kids to the kitchen to help you prepare a meal—without electricity! Salads and sandwiches are easy options, but feel free to get creative.

Make energy saving a game

Create an energy saving treasure-hunt for your little ones. Give them clues that lead to areas in your home that are wasting energy, such as a light left on or a dripping faucet. When they get to the end of the hunt, give them a prize.

Time showers

Hot water heating is one of the largest energy expenses in any home, so shorter showers can really make a difference on your monthly bill. Encourage your kids to use less hot water by timing their showers. Give kids about five minutes to shower and challenge them to finish up before the buzzer goes off.