Plumbing Tips to Teach Your Kids

Children are inherently curious. They’re born into a massive world of which they know absolutely nothing, so they have so much learning and exploring to do in order to help them figure things out. Since they don’t know anything on their own, they look to people they trust to learn more and gain an understanding of the environment they were born into. That’s why it’s so important, whether you’re a parent, an older sibling, or a babysitter, that you’re always conscious of the example you’re setting for the little ones around you.

One of the many ways this curiosity and copycat-like behavior can manifest is with how you treat your home. One of the most essential systems in any home is plumbing. It’s responsible for bringing clean water in and taking dirty water out. While most adults understand how important it is to take care of this system, children aren’t born understanding why it’s so important to avoid putting certain things down the drain or why Mom and Dad get so upset when they flush the toilet too many times in a row.

It’s on the older people in their lives to teach them and show them the right way to do things. So to keep your kiddos out of trouble, here are a few of the most important tips to teach them about plumbing:

What Plumbing Is and How It Works

If kids understand what something is and why it is important to them, they’re far less likely to be reckless with how they use it. So teaching them that the sink provides them with water that they can drink will make them less likely to want to throw paint all over it.

Explain What Can Go Down the Drains

It must be pretty incredible for a kid to be in the kitchen and watch food scraps go down the kitchen sink, never to be seen again. They’re probably wondering what else can get thrown down there! Silverware? Hot Wheels cars? Their sister’s Barbie dolls?

Make sure to explain that the kitchen sink is for food scraps and food scraps only and that certain foods and waste like oils and grease can cause major problems for the sink over time.

What Belongs In the Toilet

Teach them how to care for toilets properly. For some reason, kids see a toilet bowl and think it would be perfect for their favorite toy. Emphasize that this is not true, and show them how to use the toilet properly. This includes:

• Not flushing multiple times in a row.
• Not putting too much toilet paper in the bowl.
• Not flushing anything other than toilet paper.

How to Save Water

A lot of kids don’t understand why it’s so important to be mindful of our water consumption and waste, and why would they understand? That’s why it’s so important to have conversations with children about the importance of saving water and making sure not to be wasteful with it.

Especially in California, where drought is constantly on our minds, it’s more important than ever to make sure we’re limiting our water waste.

By taking the time to talk to your kids about plumbing and emphasizing why it’s important to take care of it, you can help them avoid some common mistakes that could lead to big problems down the road. If some damage is incurred while your kids are still in the learning phase, worry not. Our team at EJ Plumbing will be here to help no matter what. Visit our website or call us at to learn more about our services!