How to Get Kids to Drink More Water this Summer
Since the beginning of time, and on a planet with 71% of its surface covered in it, parents have been trying to get their kids to drink more water. Harvard University reports that about 54.5% of adolescents don’t get enough daily H2O to attain healthy levels of hydration. While a concern all year long, it’s accentuated during the summer months when your child is more active and the sun zaps hydration from their bodies at a higher rate. Higher rates are prevalent in regions with extreme temperatures, which is something parents need to be mindful of if they live in hot summer climates like the BC interior (Canada) or if traveling to hot destinations on summer vacation.
Of course, no child outright dislikes water, so why is it difficult to get them to throw it down the hatch with greater frequency? A lot of the time, it simply comes down to them wanting to assert their independence. It’s not that they don’t want to do something that’s good for them, it’s just that they don’t want to be told to do it. Adding to the challenge, is that parental guidance competes against energy drinks that have invested millions in eye-catching packaging and advertisements that are directed towards adolescents. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that approximately 30-50% of adolescents now consume energy drinks with regular frequency, which is problematic when considering the potential health risks associated with these beverages when consumed in developmental years.
So how to get kids to drink more water this summer, without laying down the law? Below are some helpful tips to making it happen!
6 Tips to Getting Your Kids Pumped Up About Drinking Water Over Energy Drinks this Summer
Communicate the Benefits
Kids understand that they require water to stave off dehydration. Parents can tell them this all day long, but it does not have the intended effect because it’s a form of negative reinforcement. Flip the script on this rationale and communicate the benefits of getting more water (positive reinforcement) instead of telling them about what can go wrong when they don’t drink it. When they know what these benefits are, and they can draw a direct line between consumption and how it will make their summertime experiences more FUN, they will be more likely to drink-up on their own. Proven benefits of water consumption that your child will respond to include the following:
- Water maintains a stable body temperature, helping them stay cool on a hot summer day (meaning they can keep playing longer when outdoors at the beach, etc.).
- Water cushions and lubricates joints which will make them more agile and faster when engaged in summer activities. This is a big motivator if they are competitive with friends, siblings, and cousins.
- Water aids in digestion by helping to break down food and facilitating nutrient absorption. In other words, it helps reduce tummy aches after too many campfire s’mores and roasted marshmallows.
- Adequate water intake is linked to improved cognitive function and mental clarity. This is another big motivator for those competing against friends/family during summer evening boardgames and allowed (after a day of physical activity) video-game time.
- Water keeps skin hydrated, and can contribute to a healthy, radiant, and acne-free complexion. This is something that young teens will DEFINITELY respond to.
- Staying hydrated helps boost energy levels through the day and night. This is far more sustainable when compared to consumption of energy drinks, which is invariably followed by a sugar and/or caffeine “crash”. By switching to water, a child to play longer into those wondrous late summer nights (sorry, folks).
Get Them a “Cool” Water Bottle
Energy drink brands use product packaging and celebrity endorsers to get your adolescent’s attention. But the good news, is that premium water bottle companies have stepped up and invested heavily to do the same. This strategy has worked to encourage kids to fill-up and keep a trendy water bottle with them at all times. Companies like Hydro Flask, Orca, and YETI (the latter in particular) have designed not just highly functioning bottles to keep water cool on a summer day, they have made a variety of colors to suit personality types. They have also manufactured drinking vessels in varying sizes to make versions that are easy to carry for kids, and even sponsor young athletes that your child may look up to. These water bottles are known to contribute to increased water consumption in children due to their appeal, and because children see it as a “big kid” item similar to what young adults use. Given the double-wall vacuum insulation and stainless steel construction there is a greater cost, but given that they lasts longer and will encourage your child to drink more water, the return-on-investment makes it worthwhile.
*Eco-friendly (packaged) boxed waters are also trending for kids, who enjoy the novelty of drinking water from a carton that looks like it’s for milk.
Outfit Them with a Water Backpack
Active kids who enjoy summer hikes and bike rides get a kick out of water backpacks (commonly referred to by adults as a hydration pack). These are backpacks designed with a water reservoir, often a bladder, and a tube for hands-free drinking while on the move. It’s a fun accessory for your kid to wear that will encourage them to keep sipping during their most active season.
Add Fruit Flavors (naturally)
Pretty much every household keeps a large pitcher of filtered water in the fridge during the summer. To ensure it gets used with greater frequency by your child, add some natural flavor. Slice up their favorite summertime fruits, such as limes, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, watermelon (etc.) and immerse one (or a variation after testing flavor combinations) into the pitcher and let it sit in the fridge overnight, each night. When your child opens the fridge each new day, and sees the vibrantly colored concoction that awaits, they will grab a glass and start pouring in the vitamin-infused goodness. You won’t even have to convince them!
Fun Cubes in the Freezer
Fun ice cubes encourage kids to consume more water. Younger children will enjoy trays that create shapes like dinosaurs, stars, sea animals, and the like. However, It’s not just about shapes, as trays that accommodate larger ice cubes or spheres can be used to make colorful fruit-infused ice for your kids. As with the concept introduced in the section above, you can add small bits of blueberries, strawberries, and pineapple (etc.) to the water once it has been poured into the tray and let it freeze. Kids will be delighted to pop them out to add to their drinks, or to enjoy as they are like an all-natural popsicle!
Make it Fizzy
Consider buying a water carbonator for your home, or even a portable one for when taking extended summer vacations. Children are often drawn to carbonated water due to its fizzy sensation and the way it interacts with their taste buds. It creates a sensation similar to soda and energy drinks, without the sugar and other additives. This, combined with the visual appeal of the bubbles, makes it a fun and refreshing alternative to still water, especially for those who might not enjoy the latter. For added fun, combine the fruit and cubes (see above) with the fizz!
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