Hydration Hacks for Kids: Top Tips to Keep Your Child Drinking Water

Picture this, it's a beautiful afternoon, and the kids are having a blast playing outside. They're so caught up in their games that they probably aren't even thinking about drinking water. As a parent, it's important to make sure they're staying hydrated, especially when kids are playing for a long period of time or out in hot weather, so it's good to be mindful and encourage those water breaks!

Why is Hydration Important for Kids?

Staying hydrated is super important for kids. Water helps maintain normal physical and cognitive functions. But getting kids excited about plain water can be a challenge. So, how do we make water more appealing to your children? Let's explore some fun and creative ways to get your kids drinking more water.

Recommended Water Intake by Age

Before we dive into the fun ways to make water more exciting, let's quickly cover the daily recommended amount of water kids need. It can vary a bit depending on their age, size, and how active they are. A good indication for whether your child needs to drink water is the colour of their urine. If it's too dark they should drink more water. But here's a handy guide from the British Nutrition Foundation,

• Ages 5 –11: Around 6-8 glasses a day (120ml-200ml serving)
• Ages 12 and up: Aim for 6-8 glasses a day(250-300ml serving)

Of course, keeping track of exactly how much water they're drinking can feel impossible sometimes! But don't worry, we've got some tips to make it easier.

Fun and Effective Hydration Hacks for Kids

We now know how much water kids need, but how do we get them to drink it? Here are some parent-tested, kid-approved tips to make drinking more water easier:

Make it visually appealing

One reason kids might not want to drink water is that they think it's not “fun”, well to counter this we have thought up a couple of ways to make still natural mineral water look more appealing to your little ones.

Colourful Cups and Flashy Bottles

Kids love things that are colourful and fun, and that includes their water bottles.

Try getting them a cool reusable bottle in their favourite colour or with a picture of their favourite superhero. Even better, let them decorate it with stickers and make it their own! You'll be surprised how much more interested they'll be in drinking water when it's from their own personalised bottle. Just make sure those stickers are not on spouts or straws.

Ice Cube Art

Grab some fun-shaped silicone moulds (think stars, hearts, dinosaurs...) and pop in some chopped-up berries before freezing for an extra dose of colour and flavour.

Infuse it with Flavour:

There are plenty of ways to add a little natural flavour to your kid’s still water and make it more enticing.

Fruits & Vegetables

Some people find water a bit bland. Why not infuse it with a splash of natural flavour? Add slices of fruits like oranges, lemons, cucumbers or herbs for a refreshing twist. It's an easy way to make water more appealing. Get creative and let your kids choose their own flavour combinations – they might surprise you with their concoctions!

Turn it into a Game:

Turning drinking water into a game can help increase your kid’s chances of drinking more water daily. Thankfully, we have a couple of ideas that you can try out.

H4: Sipping Challenges

Set up a daily challenge chart where they get a sticker for each glass of water they drink throughout the day. Once they've collected 6-8, reward them with a small prize.

Make Hydration a Family Habit

Kids love to copy everything you do, use that to your advantage! If your kids see you sipping on water throughout the day, they'll be much more likely to do it too. Also, make it your go-to drink to accompany your dinner so they get used to drinking water later during the day, too. Make staying hydrated a family habit.

Keeping kids happy and hydrated doesn't have to be a struggle! With a little creativity, water can be their favourite drink. We've talked about cool water bottles, fruity flavours, and even turning hydration into a game. Remember, the key is to make it fun and be a good role model by drinking plenty of water yourself!