Clean water goes hand in hand with hygiene and sanitation, and handwashing plays a big part in stopping the spread of disease. In areas where there is no running water, tip taps — also known as tippy taps — are clever contraptions that conserve water while keeping people healthy. They are simple to build with easy-to-find materials.
How to make a tip tap
Need an idea to engage your kids and make handwashing fun? Try making a tip tap or one of our other fun family activities.
- Gather two forked sticks of equal length, two straight sticks, tools to dig, a water container, two pieces of heavy-duty string, and a bar of soap.
- Dig two holes 2 feet apart and place the forked sticks in the holes. Make sure the sticks are secure and tightly packed into the holes.
- Place one of the straight sticks across the two supports.
- Make two holes in the water container: one about six inches below the opening, and the other in the cap of the container.
- Fill the container with clean water, thread a piece of string through the hole in the cap, and hang the container from the cross stick.
- Attach the other end of the string to the remaining stick, which will be at the foot level.
- Make a hole in the soap, thread in the remaining piece of string, and hang from the cross stick.
- Make a gravel basin between the support sticks to prevent the area from getting muddy. Now you can wash your hands!
