Water is considered one of the most important things to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended for everyone to drink enough amount of Water. From children to senior citizens, everyone’s body needs an apt amount of Water. As a parent, you may think that your child is not drinking enough Water. One of the main reasons is that they may not feel thirsty often though their body needs the Water or simply don’t remember to drink Water every hour or so. There are many ways that you can use as a parent to encourage your child to drink Water.
Some of the benefits of Water for kids are it Keeps joints, bones, and teeth healthy, aids blood circulation, and can help children maintain a healthy weight into adulthood. In youngsters, being hydrated enhances mood, memory, and attention.
Here are some of the ways which you can use to encourage your child to drink Water –
– You need to start early. If your child is only of age 2 to 3, you can develop the habit of drinking water right from this age to help them in the long run.
– You can offer them Water in fun water bottles or straws or fun sippy cups, which will excite your child to drink more often. You can also create a fictional name for the cup. Children learn fictional stories and characters.
– Make the Water tasty. You can add fruit such as berries, cucumbers, or oranges to the Water, which will also make the Water more of benefits and look creative and tasty.
– Sometimes, your child will not want to drink Water because it is not right in front of them. Please provide them with water bottles that are easy to hold and encourage them to keep filling their bottle whenever it is finished on their own. The more they develop the habit of refilling the bottle, the more they will get adapted to it.
– Do not forget that your child copies you. Be an example to your kid. Make them drink Water with you. If they see you drinking Water constantly, they will develop the habit sooner.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to keep Water with you and remind your child even when you are not at home. Keep a bottle in your car, bag, or your kid’s backpack.
– Do not encourage your child to drink soda drinks or sweetened drinks. Your child may see soda drinks as a substitute for sweetened drinks which is not healthy.
– You can make water drinking fun by setting up challenges. Once they complete the challenges, you can also give them certain rewards. Such as stickers or small candy.
– If your child has a tablet or a smartphone, you can download apps that will constantly remind your child to drink water.
– Explain to your child why Water is essential and how it benefits them. Teach them how they can keep a check on their hydration. For example, if they see dark-colored urine, it means that they are dehydrated and if they see a lighter color pee, it means that their body is getting enough hydration.
Here are some of the ways you can use to get your child to drink water more often.