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5 Ways to Help Your Child Drink More Water

3/17/2020

26 Comments

 
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March 22 is World Water Day, a nationwide event that celebrates water and how important it is for our environment and for our bodies. Did you know that more than 60% of the human body is made up of water? The amount of water you should drink every day varies from person to person depending on factors such as overall body size and level of activity. Although there’s no single formula for everyone, most health authorities recommend drinking 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day, for a total of 64 ounces. 

If you or your child are having a hard time drinking enough water, World Water Day is the perfect day to learn about how essential water is for our bodies. Keep reading to learn more about the health benefits of hydration and fun ways to incorporate more water into our busy lives. ​

Why is water so essential for our health?

Proper hydration is crucial for a healthy mind and body, especially during childhood, when the body is growing and developing. Drinking water allows us to maintain the proper balance of body fluids. When you don’t drink enough water you can become dehydrated. This can be dangerous, especially for young children and older adults, as it may cause dizziness, nausea, and even fainting.

Water is also important for our body systems. In fact 92% of our blood is made up of water. Proper hydration allows our circulatory system to work efficiently to bring oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. Water is especially crucial to our digestive system, as it aids in nutrient absorption and waste elimination. In other words, it helps prevent constipation, which can be uncomfortable. Water is important for our brains as well. Proper hydration has been shown to benefit concentration, which helps your kids learn better at school. It even helps your skin and hair stay healthy!

Staying hydrated is extremely important for proper immune health. Water helps flush toxins out of your body and transports oxygen to your cells, keeping your body functioning optimally and helping you fight infection. If you do get sick, make sure you drink plenty of water to replenish any liquids you’ve lost.
​
How can I help my child drink more water?

Between school, play, and after-school activities, drinking enough water can be challenging, especially if your child doesn’t like it. Here are some ways to help your child drink more water:
  1. Use a reusable water bottle. Having water on hand increases the likelihood that your child will drink it! Have your child pick out a water bottle that they like, or decorate one themselves with stickers, so it’s unique. 
  2. Eat your water! Did you know that 20% of our daily fluid intake comes from food? Many fruits and vegetables have a high water content. Encourage your child to eat cucumbers, melons, lettuce, and strawberries, as they are more than 90% water.
  3. Limit soda and juice. Soda, juice, and other sugary beverages are fine once in a while, but they should not be used as a replacement for water. The amount of sugar in these drinks can actually dehydrate your body more. Try flavored sparkling water as a zero sugar, bubbly substitute for soda.
  4. Try infused water. Try putting berries, watermelon or lemon in your water to make it fruity! Feel free to get creative and use any fruit your child enjoys. This is a great alternative to juice for kids that don’t like the taste of water. You can even take infused water on the go with a fruit infuser water bottle like the one linked here: https://amzn.to/2TDODAP
  5. Use an app! For the technology-savvy kids out there, the Plant Nanny app is a fun way to keep kids drinking! The app allows kids to pick out a cute animated plant and every time they drink water, they record it in the app, and their plant will grow. The app will even remind the child to drink water once their plant starts wilting. It’s available on the iTunes store, and on Google Play: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plant-nanny/id590216134

Let us know in the comments if you and your child try any of these tips!

If you’d like to learn more about World Water Day, check out their website: https://www.worldwaterday.org

26 Comments
Rebecca Gardner link
2/25/2021 11:23:47 am

I'm glad you mentioned that dehydration is especially dangerous for young children and seniors. My sister mentioned she's concerned that her daughter doesn't drink enough water at home since she "doesn't like the taste." Maybe I'll suggest she get an in-home purification system to make sure the water tastes fresh and encourage her daughter to drink more of it.

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HealthStart Foundation link
3/4/2021 09:07:05 am

That's a great idea! You can also infuse water with fruit to make it extra tasty for kids!

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water dispenser Gold Coast link
9/27/2021 05:04:14 pm

Water dispensers come in handy if guests visit your home, they may request for water which is easy to give all at once. They don’t have to wait for you to boil and cool the water but can take directly from the water dispenser.

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sam link
10/27/2021 03:16:26 am

Very Informative post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
<b><a><a href="https://www.ampac1.com/blog/benefits-of-drinking-water-for-brain-health/" title= "Drinking Water Benefits">Drinking Water Benefits</a></b>

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Sakshi Parjapat link
10/28/2021 12:50:02 am

I have read your blog it is very informative and useful. you have done a great job.I love your thought of using app and i appreciate it.

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Marlena
11/7/2021 05:22:20 am

I love your site. As a dental hygienist, I would like to include drinking Water after eating washes away food(sugar) and plaque (acid) to keep your teeth healthy.
Also Water helps the body form saliva- which buffers acid in your mouth to keep it healthy. It's important to drink water to maintain your overall health mouth and body.
Thank you

Reply
HealthStart Foundation
11/7/2021 09:41:21 am

Thank you for sharing. That is great information!

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Harnarayan Singh link
12/30/2021 12:29:55 am

Thanks for sharing this useful information people like it very much. I have found that your article is more informative .

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Hailey Miller link
1/7/2022 12:03:47 am

Thanks for pointing out that proper hydration allows our circulatory system to work efficiently to bring oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. My husband and I want to ensure safe drinking water for our five kids. We are hoping to find water purification systems on Monday that can guarantee high-quality replacement filters and water treatment chemicals.

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Eve Mitchell link
2/23/2022 02:16:12 pm

I loved the advice you shared about limiting soda and juice because of the sugar content. I'm trying to get my family to drink more water since we drink a lot of juice in our house. It'd be good if I could get nice water that would have a noticeably better taste.

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Clarke link
6/6/2022 09:27:58 am

Great article about how to help your kids receive the nutrients they need in water.

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Sherwin Alvarez link
6/13/2022 07:01:19 am

Great blog! It's good to know that there's someone out there helping us new mothers some tips and tricks.

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Emerson link
6/13/2022 08:28:59 am

Great blog! It's always a thumbs up for me to have tips and tricks for new mothers like me.

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Trikru link
6/14/2022 08:26:19 am

Great article! It's always a good idea when it comes to these kinds of things.

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Arkadia link
6/14/2022 09:17:32 am

Nice tips and tricks! This will surely help me with my kids in the upcoming months.

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Meryl link
6/15/2022 08:00:36 am

Infused water works well! Maya wants strawberries with her water so cute!

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Gab link
6/22/2022 04:33:57 am

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

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Sherwin Alvarez link
6/24/2022 07:57:22 am

Great article! This will surely help newly parents out there to persuade their kids to have a nice cold water.

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bechef link
8/30/2022 04:02:34 am

Amazing and love to read more

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Iris Smith link
9/12/2022 02:13:17 am

I appreciate you saying that enough water is important for a healthy mind and body, particularly in youth when the body is developing and expanding. I bought a house and intend to install a water well because the water system in my region is deficient. I'll locate a water well drilling business to assist me with digging the well and locating a water supply.

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Kampus Swasta Unggulan link
9/26/2022 09:02:22 pm

Why do children find it difficult to drink a lot of water?

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Victoria Addington link
10/25/2022 02:18:21 am

I liked how this post shared that proper hydration makes the circulatory system work efficiently. My friend wants their property to have a well. I should advise him to work with a well drilling service with vast experience.

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Mia Evans link
12/22/2022 07:42:39 pm

I totally agree when you said that our body's systems would need water, and 92% of our blood is made from it. Because of that, having enough of it would ensure that you are in great condition throughout the day. In that case, an event water refill station would be vital to ensure that you and your guests will not get dehydrated when you host parties. Doing so will prevent health issues that can turn into emergency situations when the event is quite hectic.

Reply
John Stanley link
1/4/2023 11:01:27 pm

Thank you for your information about health. This is very important for me and I'm very interested in your information.

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Aniket gupta link
1/7/2023 10:08:50 am

Thank you "Healthstartfoundation" for this article it really helped me a lot as i was searching for it from past few weeks. Thanks again.

Reply
Aniket gupta link
2/2/2023 07:05:36 am

Thank you so much for this article. I was looking for it and it helped me a lot. Keep sharing articles like this. Thanks again.

Reply



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