Kids love to play. It's the time of life when they are most active. It is also when their bodies do the most growing and maturing. They need nourishment, healthy diets, and yes, lots of water! Many of us know the health benefits of drinking water, but getting children to drink more water can sometimes be the tricky part for parents. I don't recall getting very fired up about a glass of water when I was a child. I wanted juice boxes and orange soda. So how can a parent get kids excited about water?
Let's get started with some ideas to help children drink more water:
- Teach your kiddos how to use the water spigot on an Eldorado Natural Spring Water 5-gallon water dispenser. Make a fun little game of it.
- At mealtimes, refrain from giving your children sugary beverages and juices, and serve water instead.
- Set a great example by drinking water instead of soda, sweet tea, or energy drinks.
- Provide your kids with a uniquely personal drinking cup for their water. They will find this cup inviting and fun, and if the cup is used only for water, the kids are more likely to look forward to a refreshing glass of cool water.
- Infuse your family's water with flavor by adding fruits such as cucumbers, lemons, and limes. You can also use frozen berries in your water to keep it extra cold (per Children's Hospital of Colorado).
- How about getting techy and introducing your older children to a water drinking mobile app? Or, more likely these days, they may be able to introduce YOU to one!
- Lastly, another fun game is to grow two beans (tip: pole or bush beans grow the fastest). After soaking them in water for 24 hours, plant them in separate containers and water one with regular tap water and the other with Eldorado Natural Spring Water. See which one grows faster (we already know)!
The amount of water a child needs daily depends on a variety of factors. Children's Hospital of Colorado recommends that children should daily drink an 8 ounce cup of water per year of their age, with a maximum of 64 ounces of water per day for children ages 8 and older. These numbers do not take into account other beverages children may consume in a day, including milk, juice, etc.
By teaching children the importance of drinking water and by playing an active role in their consumption of enough water, you can ensure that healthy habits are being formed early on. The benefits of children primarily drinking water will extend further than just their early development— it will help set the stage for a lifetime of healthy living.
