Children, and also teens, in this generation are more preoccupied in how to get the WiFi passwords than to remind themselves to drink water. Not to mention, that this generation offers a lot of distraction which could reroute the minds and focus of the young ones and leave them careless towards their health.
Parents play an important role in making sure that their kids are getting the enough water intake they need on a daily basis. However, what happens if the kids are not under the lookout of their parents? Do they drink water regularly if they are in school or in a friend’s house? Do they instill discipline on themselves when it comes to staying hydrated if the parents are out for work? Now, those are examples of situations that are no longer within the control of parents.
So, how do you make sure that your kids are drinking the sufficient amount of water that they need?
Why Should Kids Drink Water?
Water is an absolute essential for a person’s overall health. Our body is composed of mainly water and is dependent on water to be able to function properly. On the other hand, kids have more water percentage in the body if compared to adults. Hence, the more it is important for them to drink water more than the average.
Water keeps you hydrated and functioning well throughout the day. It is an important factor in protecting your skin, your bodily organs and your whole body in general. A human body naturally wastes water every day through sweating, talking, breathing, eating and even the minor physical tasks you do on a day to day basis. With those alone, your body already uses up 30 to 40 percent of water, which then needs to be replaced regularly by drinking water.
Kids are considered to be more hyperactive as compared to adults. They engage in playful activities that requires muscular movements letting them sweat heavily. Furthermore, they are fond of talking endlessly because of their wild imaginations and fictional fantasies. Therefore, they are prone to lose more water than normal and the more likely it is needed for them to drink water.
The young ones are not yet mindful of their health and do not somehow yet comprehend the importance of taking care of it. So, they tend to be carefree and just do, eat and drink whatever they want. If they feel thirsty, they do not consciously decide to drink water because it is for their own good. Instead, they just choose whatever is inside your fridge or in cases if they are in school or outside from home, they will most likely choose a beverage drink that has different flavors because that is more interesting to their taste buds if compared to water. Nonetheless, kids are curious and explorers in nature. They tend to go for the ones that tickles their creativity and challenges their thinking.
The Importance of Having Kids to Drink Water Regularly
The human body is suggested to have 60 percent of water in an average. In addition, kids have more percentages of water on their body as oppose to adults. Hence, the more important and needed it is for kids to regularly drink water.
A lot of negotiation usually happens whenever parents try to introduce water to their kids and especially its importance to their bodies. The most common question of kids if their parents is trying to offer them water is, “why?“.
Our bodies may be composed of different amounts of water all depending on certain factors, but generally, water offers the same exact benefits to every person.
- Water is responsible for regulating the temperature of the body. In simple terms, it helps us to not get too cold and too hot in certain weather or climate conditions.
- It is in-charge of removing toxins and wastes out of the body. This is done through urinating and regular bowel movements.
- Water serves us the carrying machine for nutrients to successfully enter and spread to our body.
- Water is a lubrication device that helps keep our muscles and joints functioning smoothly.
- It protects and rejuvenates the skin, preventing it from becoming vulnerable to any skin problems or diseases.
- Generally, water enables our whole body to act and function normally and keeps us on a healthy state for us to be able to easily reach our optimum potentials that are needed for a day to day encounter with tasks and activities.
When our body loses water even as little as 5 percent of it, it already poses minor risks that affects our health. It causes the person to experience headaches, dry mouth, irritability or mood swings, tiredness, confusion and prevents regular heart rates.
If kids stay in a situation in to which they are hydrated their ability to think and comprehend will be seriously affected. In the long run, it could result to inability to learn and poor performances in school and as a kid in general. They may not be able to challenge their cognitive capabilities and mental capacities.
Dehydration is Common among Kids
Studies have shown that 8 out of 10 kids are found to have mild dehydration. In addition, children ages between 6 to 19 are drinking less of water than they should normally be drinking. As a result, most children suffer from dehydration.
The American Journal of Public Health also published a study to which stated that there is a significant difference towards racial differences when it comes to dehydration. It is found that kids from the black race are prone to becoming more hydrated than the white kids. The reason might be with the unequal allocation of water supplies in specific supplies, substandard maintenance of water utilities or systems or the availability of water is barely reachable to the black community.
Dehydration in this sense could just be mild or it could also be severe depending on how the situation is being addressed. It has also been tested that kids are difficult to persuade in drinking water because they usually would choose the sugary drinks. Scientists from different universities have been studying ways on how to let children drink more water and choose water regularly.
The Institute of Medicine has made it clear that children and even teenagers should drink at least up to two to three quarts of water daily. This is to ensure that they stay hydrated and healthy no matter what physical activities are in stored for them. Research also advises that boys should drink more water as oppose to girls.
Quite the good thing is, if kids get dehydrated, it is easy and quickly for them to re-hydrate. Simply by just letting them drink more water and to make it a regular routine. Unfortunately, inadequate hydration can seriously lead to major health and mental problems for kids and teens. The more they stay dehydrated and do not immediately address the issue by drinking water, the worse their current health situation becomes.
Certain cities or local areas have a hard time in providing kids, or the people in general, with water to drink on. If they are able to, the problem is still with the safety levels of the water, if it is healthy and reliable to drink.
Therefore, a bigger question arises and that is “how could you make sure that your kids are drinking safe supplies of water and could stay away from dehydration?”
Do your Kids have access to Safe and Clean Water?
The case with dehydration or hydration is not as simple as grabbing a glass of water to drink on, but, the quality of the water is just as important to make sure that you and your kids stay well hydrated and healthy.
The water quality in particular regions are difficult to achieve and maintain. Certain factors contribute to this downfall of having poor quality waters. In addition, having limited to no access to quality waters can greatly take a toll in making sure that the children, and the people, are healthy and well.
Some of the cases that could highly affect or is affecting the water supplies from being safe consumption are:
- Poor maintenance of city pipes causing it to corrode and distribute unsanitary tap water.
- Bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and other pollutants that are present and contaminating the water.
- No sufficient supply of water for proper allocation around the area.
There are a lot more of contributing factors that enables the problem, regarding water resources safeness, to continue happening. Paying attention to the water your kids are drinking is highly important to make sure that they will stay healthy. Furthermore, focusing on the matter in providing your kids with safe access to drinkable water is something that all parents should be mindful of.
How can you Make your Kids Drink more Water?
There are many possible ways on how to make your kids drink more water than they should. It is important to ensure that they are getting the sufficient amount of water a day, to prevent cases of dehydration and further health problems.
Be the Example
One perfect way to show your kids the importance of drinking water regularly is setting the example. Kids look up to their parents as their role models. Especially, at a young age to which their brains are like sponges to which they absorb everything that they hear or see, it is likely that they will definitely follow in to your footsteps.
Show them that you discipline yourself into drinking water from time to time. Also, it can be an advantage if as early as their age they could already practice the proper timing as to when to drink water. Drinking water at the right time can maximize the functions and potentials of your body. Here is a list explaining the different time where water is necessary and most important.
- Drink a glass of water after waking up. This is to activate your bodily organs and help clear out remaining toxins in your body before you even begin the day.
- One glass of water before and after a meal. Drinking before your meal aids in your digestion and metabolism. Then, drinking another glass of water after meal makes sure that the nutrients is absorbed by the body.
- It is also necessary to drink a glass of water before taking a bath. Studies show that drinking a glass of water before bath time can help lower down your blood pressure.
- Lastly, drink a glass of water an hour before bed time. This is to replace the water that is used by your body during the course of the night.
Incorporate Creativity to Capture their Interest
Kids are playful and creative in nature, they are easily attracted to things that seem extraordinary to them. For example, a mixture of colors, weird combinations of shapes and sizes or uniquely looking objects. Hence, to make them drink water, one best way to capture their attention is by mixing cut fruits with water.
Chop tiny bits of different fruits like oranges, apples, watermelons and a like and mix them all together with water to make naturally flavored waters. It does not just attracts your kids with all the colors and shapes, but it also makes the water even more healthy considering the different vitamins and nutrients that are found on the fruits.
Provide them with Sufficient Water Supply
If there is the presence of water, most importantly if that is their only available option for a thirst-quencher, kids are just most likely to accept that option. It is not depriving them of other enjoyable fluids or beverages, but is only limiting their intake of sugary drinks and increasing their water consumption.
Fill your fridge with mostly water or have a water dispenser conveniently available in your house. An easy access to water can significantly increase the chances of kids drinking water. Because, if water is too difficult to reach or find, kids will just forget about their thirst and continue with what they are doing. As oppose to having water available and accessible anytime, and it is easy for them to reach, the regular they will drink water.
There are a lot of hindering factors when it comes to providing your kids with water, more so, making sure that they drink it. Nonetheless, just always remember that it is better to ensure a healthy lifestyle than to regret the consequences in the end.
EcoBlueLife.com is a replacement water and air filter company located in the United States. The views and opinions contained herein are solely those of the original author and do not represent Eco Blue Life or its affiliates. This article was originally published on TheBerkey.com
