Let’s face it: it can be a real challenge to get little ones to drink water, especially enough water to stay hydrated. And when it’s summertime in Texas, it’s so important to keep those little bodies hydrated! If you have a hard time getting your kids to drink water, don’t give up! Check out these tips for getting and keeping your kids hydrated all summer long.
1. Get personal water bottles.
Sometimes the novelty of having your very own cup or water bottle is enough to encourage you to drink more water. Surprise your child with a kid-sized water bottle, or let them pick out their own. Build some excitement up by making a special trip just to get “summer water bottles for the family.” You might even choose to hide these water bottles away after summer ends, so you can bring the excitement back next summer…without having to buy new water bottles.
2. Flavor water with fruit.
If your kids complain that water doesn’t taste good, or that it’s too plain, try adding some fresh fruit to it. Lemon, cucumbers, blueberries, and mint are just a few ingredients that go great in water. If you have multiple kids, let them take turns picking out a “recipe” for the water pitcher. They’ll be more likely to drink up a water they helped “make.”
3. Eat your water.
Another great way to consume water is through fruits and veggies that are full of it. Watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, zucchini, tomatoes, and strawberries are healthy snacks that can also help hydrate your kiddos.
A similar idea is making fruit-filled ice cubes. Let your children put berries, lemons, or mint leaves in ice cube trays to put in their water throughout the day. Not only does this make the water look more appealing, it provides a little treat for your kids to enjoy once the ice melts.
4. Get a little silly.
If you didn’t think drinking water could be fun, think again. Silly straws can make drinking water less of a chore and more of a game. Another idea is to bring the silly straws out as a kind of reward; after your child has refilled his water bottle three times, he can use the silly straw. Or, your child can use the silly straw for dinner if she has drank a certain amount of water for the day.
5. Do a water challenge.
If your family enjoys some friendly competition, make a weekly or monthly water chart! Each family gets a column to track how much water they drink each day. You can pick a daily, weekly, or monthly winner. Whoever drinks the most may get to pick the next family movie, board game, or request a special meal.
Do you have any tried-and-true tips for keeping your kids hydrated? We’d love to hear them! And if you try out any of these tips this summer, we’d love to hear which ones worked best for you.