Drinking enough water is necessary for any healthy lifestyle, but we all know how difficult it can be to reach your daily water goal.
So, should tracking your child’s water intake be another thing on your endless list of responsibilities?
Unfortunately, yes!
Children are very active, and when they sweat, they lose more of their body’s water than adults. This makes them more vulnerable to dehydration.
Why you should monitor your child’s water intake
According to research, even low levels of dehydration can affect a child’s mood, energy, and ability to concentrate.
In a review of studies on 7-to-9-year-olds, researchers found that poor hydration correlates with a variety of physical and mental health issues, including:
• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Poor short-term memory
• And short attention span
Evidently, children frequently underestimate how much and how often they need to drink water.
Even when water is easily accessible, children do not necessarily understand that they should drink throughout the day.
In a similar study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that 1 out of 5 children do not drink plain water.
“Children who did not drink any plain water (from the tap or a bottle) consumed nearly twice as many calories and a higher percentage of all calories from sugar-sweetened beverages,” says Dr Asher Rosinger.
But, what does this mean for your child?
Well, drinking enough water during the day – especially while at school – can have a significant impact on how well they learn and behave in class.
How to keep your children hydrated at school
Regrettably, there are no magic solutions to ensure your children stay hydrated, however, a thoughtful and consistent approach can help:
• Talk the talk: Explain to your children the benefits of staying hydrated and drinking water. Afterwards, set a daily goal and help them achieve it.
• Walk the walk: Children are perceptive. They will react according to your tone, so set an example by regularly drinking water in front of them.
• Ensure your water is filtered and purified: Water tastes better when it’s free from contaminants, sediments, and other things that shouldn’t be there.
• Turn it into a game: Turning a task into a game will ensure they stay motivated to continue. Give your children a sticker for each cup they drink, have them paste it on a water goal sheet, and create a prize for reaching their goals.
• Jazz it up: Let your children pick their unique water bottle and have them decorate it in any way they like.
Teach your children the Oasis Water lifestyle
Adding an Oasis Water dispenser to your home will help make hydration habits easier. If you’re not always sure about what’s coming out of your tap, Oasis Water is an excellent way of assuring a healthy and clean water supply.
