Get Your Kids to Stay Hydrated in the Classroom and on the Field

Keeping Kids Hydrated

It may shock you a little to learn that by the time your child mentions being thirsty, they are already dehydrated by at least three percent, and it's taking a toll on their wellbeing. Experts have recommended not waiting for your child to tell you they are thirsty before offering them water to drink, but this may sound a lot easier said than done. That is why we've compiled some tips to help you keep your kids hydrated in the classroom and out at play.

It doesn't have to be water

Luckily for mums around the world, there are many fruits and vegetables that have a very high water content which can help you to up your child's hydration levels in a more tasty way. Offer them strawberries, watermelon, celery, cucumbers and even broccoli to keep the intake of fluids up on a daily basis, and remember to keep fluid intake up with five balanced servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

Make sipping on something more fun

There are a number of ways you can make it more fun for your child to sip on some water. This includes letting them pick out their own drinking cups or water bottles, and investing in crazy straws or even some animal shaped ice cube trays. When it comes to enhancing the experience for your child, the only limit is your imagination, so take a stroll around your local supermarket and pick up some products that will make staying hydrated more fun.

Add some flavour and colours to the drink

More often than not, your child might turn up their nose at the 'boring' drink of water in front of them. Luckily, with the Internet as a resource of seemingly endless possibilities, you'll be able to find a range of fruit and herb-infused water recipes that will add some flavour and colour to what's in the cup. Freeze some cranberries into ice cubes or use a Kid Zinger to infuse some flavour, either way you'll be able to make that glass of water into a treat, without resorting to sugar-rich and calorie-packed soft drinks.

Make sure water is easily accessible

This responsibility certainly falls as much on the schools and their sports fields as it does on you. If a child cannot reach the sink or water tap, then they're unable to get access to the water that they need. By setting up an easy-to-use water dispenser or ensuring there's access to drinking water fountains, you’ll help your child maintain good water drinking habits.

Create a reminder system

Developing the habit of water drinking in children begins as a task of which they're acutely aware before the behaviour is engrained more deeply into their brains and therefore acted upon without a second thought. Help develop this habit by placing a chart on your refrigerator that your child can mark whenever they have a serving of water. Reward good water drinking habits with a home-made frozen and fluid-rich - treat in the form of frozen fruit juice popsicles!