DRINKING WATER AND CHILDREN
Children are at a much greater risk of dehydration, as the process can begin much more rapidly in them. Once the body is dehydrated, the internal temperature rises and the body, particularly the brain, overheats. Since children are still growing, there is all the more need to keep the body hydrated so that it functions properly. Children should always have unlimited access to safe drinking water. A loss of 2% of body fluids causes a 20% reduction in performance in both physical and mental activities. Dehydration in excess of 3% may lead to heat stroke, a condition to which children are much more prone than adults are.
Another reason why children should drink up is that their thirst mechanisms are less developed than adults', and tend to appear after dehydration has already set in. Children should therefore be encouraged to drink water even if they are not thirsty. Headaches, irritability and sleepiness are often signs of dehydration. Of course, children are bombarded with ads of cool soft drinks, but parents, please note that water is a far better choice. Since water is such an important component to our physiology, it would make sense that the quality of water should be just as important as the quantity. Therefore, your drinking water should always be clean and free of contaminants. Now the hard part is getting those kids to drink on a daily basis!
Tips For Getting Your Children To Drink More Water
Keep the water cold, kids often think room temperature water is distasteful. Allow your child to choose their favorite cup or silly straw to be used only with water. If they want to use that cup, they must pour water in it! Bright colored pitchers or even fun shaped ice cubes will attract your kids. Save the sugary and carbonated drinks for a special treat, such as the movies or out to dinner. Water for children is an important and healthy habit to implement whilst they are young. This way they will grow up teaching their kids the same thing! Children disregard water fountains at school and make their way to the soda machines. This is mainly because kids think that water has no flavor thus making it a second or even third choice drink. Don’t forget to be a good role model and drink plenty of water yourself! Encouraging water consumption can help make a positive change in the entire family.
