Getting your children to drink water can seem like an impossible task. It’s hard enough for most adults to drink water. However, there are some things you can do to get your child to enjoy drinking water more.

Water is extremely important for the development of your kids. According to Dr. Janine Rethy, Chief of Community Pediatrics at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, water and milk are the two most important drinks you can give to your children because both are essential for their development. Water is good for joints, weight regulation, and blood circulation. Although the amount of water your child should be drinking varies depending on their age and the weather, a good rule of thumb is about 8oz of water for every year old they are. However, this amount should max out at 64 oz to avoid over-hydration.

There are a few indicators that you can look for to see if your child is drinking enough water. If your child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms it could mean they are dehydrated.

• Overly sleepy
• Dry lips or sticky mouth
• Dark urine
• Irritable
• Flushed skin
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Feeling excessively hot or cold

We all know that children don’t always want to drink water, but there are a few ways that you could make the experience more fun for them.

Try adding fruit to their water.

By either infusing the water or adding frozen fruit instead of ice, you are enhancing the flavor of their water and making it taste a little sweeter. Children may find the added taste of fruit more appealing than just plain water. 

Buy fun cups and straws.

Giving your child their own special cup or bottle to drink out of will make drinking water a lot more fun for them. Buying them fun straws in different colors and shapes will make the experience seem exciting. For little hands, a smaller bottle helps a lot – the 14oz Sport Bottle is an easy everyday option that still feels “grown up.”

Buy small water bottles.

If you buy smaller sized water bottles, it will be much easier for your children to carry them around and drink from them. If your child needs something that fits easily in backpacks and cup holders, the 20oz Traveler can be a great size for school days, car rides, and practices.

Lead by example.

Children learn a lot by observing their parents. If you show them that you are drinking water, they will see that they should be drinking water too. This will not only help your child drink more water, but it will hold you accountable to drinking more water as well.

Getting your children to drink more water doesn’t have to be hard. Try to incorporate some of these ideas into your routine and don’t be afraid to have fun with it!