Children across Edinburgh have three weeks left of their holiday freedom, and parents are still having to come up with some creative ideas to help keep their little ones entertained.
The easy option is to turn to games consoles, tablets and TVs, especially like now when it’s raining. Time spent on tech gadgets and gizmos can add up to increased energy use and potentially add money on energy bills.
Scottish Gas Smart Energy Expert, Stephen Cosgrove from Edinburgh installs gas and electricity smart meters in customers’ homes. They come with a smart energy monitor which shows how much energy you’re using, in near real-time, in pounds and pence.
Customers with smart meters can keep an eye on higher energy use this summer, when at home with the kids, but here Stephen shares his top tips to keep the whole family occupied while keeping energy costs down.
- Swap the screens for a board game and start a leaderboard
We conducted some research recently and found that Edinburgh residents spend more than 30 hours a week in front of their TVs or tablets. This tech can be great if the kids don’t have anyone else to play with, but if the whole family is together switch it off and play a board game instead. You could play at least once a week and keep a score chart on the fridge – the winner at the end of the holidays could get a special prize!
- Family film time
Watching one film together will save electricity, but it can often be hard to get everyone to agree on what they want to watch. To make it fairer and easier, set up a game of charades where everyone acts out the film of their choice. Get the family to vote on the best one and then you can watch the winner’s selection – simple!
3. Learn a new skill
At the start of the week, challenge the family to learn a new skill using something from around the house or in the garden. It could be anything from hula hooping or (plastic) plate spinning to learning a dance routine or some sentences from another language. Set aside an hour every day and by the end of the week you will have learned something new together.
- Gamify your energy saving
Some items, such as phone chargers, still use energy when plugged in and not being used. The same goes for leaving gadgets on standby. Encourage your kids to be ‘energy zappers’ and challenge them to turn off as many unnecessary lights and switches as they can. If you have a smart meter you can use it to record your energy use at the end of the month. If you’ve saved energy, then you might want to reward your little zappers with a treat!
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