Is your child drinking enough water? One of the most important things a healthy active child can do is stay hydrated. It is essential for kids playing sport to replace the fluids lost from sweating. Drinking water is the best way to do that. But with the number of sugary drinks on the market, getting your child excited about water can be difficult. Here are some ways to encourage your child to stick to the healthy drinks and prevent dehydration.
Pack a water bottle whenever you can. Have a bottle of water in your child’s lunchbox. In summer its great to pack a frozen water bottle. If your child is resistant to plain water try putting slices of lemon, orange, mint or ginger into a jug of water in the fridge. Not only will it taste more interesting, the colours will get your child excited about drinking it.
Watch out for signs of dehydration. Drinking enough water, especially while playing sports or on hot days, allows your child’s body to function at its best. Dehydration can lead to headaches, lack of concentration or make your child feel cranky. Young children aged 5-8 should drink at least 5 glasses or 1 litre everyday.
Soccajoeys encourages kids to drink as much water as they need during classes. We make it easy by giving each new child who registers for the program their own Soccajoeys water bottle. It’s a great way to get kids excited about staying hydrated.
