Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, school this year might look like a computer screen, countless breaks, frustrated parents, and lots of “recess.” But that’s okay! No matter where your child is in school this year, make sure they stay hydrated. 

Here are some ways you can help your kids stay hydrated during the school day––wherever they may be.

Stay Hydrated with Your Kids

Children tend to copy their surroundings, especially adults who are closest to them. If you’re (no judgment!) sipping on an ice cold Coke, chances are, your child is going to want a taste. If you want to instill healthy hydration habits in your little ones, make sure you set a good example––drink water with them!

If you want to start staying hydrated, we recommend getting a large water bottle, so that you get in the habit of refilling it when it’s empty. Buy your child a water bottle that they can refill, and maybe make a game out of who can finish their water first. This is a great way to start a habit of regularly consuming water.

Include Water-Based Foods in Their Lunchbox

Many fruits and vegetables are made up of water, making it easy to get extra hydration at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A few fruits you can include in your child’s lunch include cut-up watermelon, cucumber slices, grapes, and cantaloupe. Since fruits like watermelon are sweet, it should be relatively easy to get your child used to eating them.

Let Your Child Pick Out a Water Bottle

Be honest, as a child, how likely were you to drink out of a boring clear container? Probably not likely at all! Your child, more than likely, applies the same reasoning to other bottles of water. Instead of making your child drink water out of a regular cup, take them to the store and let them pick out a reusable water bottle. Look for ones with their favorite cartoon characters on it. 

If you want, you can even buy them a few packs of their favorite stickers to let them customize it with their name. This is a great incentive to help your child stay hydrated––and it’s fun for your child. Win-win!

Pack Water in Their Lunchbox

If your child is back in school, it can be hard to know if they’re staying hydrated. So, including a small bottle of water is a great way to make sure they get enough water during their school day. 

Going back to the previous tip, it could be a fun surprise to pack their favorite water bottle for lunch.

Skip the Fruit Juice

Fruit juice is a popular drink of choice for children because it’s sweet, tasty, and usually comes in fun packaging. But a lot of commercial fruit juices contain tooth-decaying sugar, additives, and little to no actual juice. Instead of spending money on artificial juice or sodas, consider limiting your child’s intake of these less healthy drink choices.

At Water Way, we understand the importance of hydration, and how it benefits your overall health. For more resources on hydration, be sure to check out our blog.