Dehydration for adults is bad enough, but for kids is can be downright dangerous. Part of the reason is that kids absorb more heat than adults, but they sweat less. They also have less fluid and therefore can easily go from mild dehydration to severe dehydration more quickly. They don’t know how dangerous it is for them not to drink water. As a parent you have to encourage kids to drink more water. If kids have their own kids water bottle they are more likely to drink more water. There are some other tricks you can use to get kids to drink more water.

• Make drinking water fun – If you can make drinking water fun for kids they are more likely to see it as something they want to do instead of something adults are forcing them to do. Kids should have their own kids water bottle in their favorite style and color. If they look at it more as a fun toy than a necessity they will use it more often. They also like to feel like they are “cool” around their friends.
• Make water accessible – Kids should have an accessible kids water bottle and also have access to good, clean water without having to ask an adult to get it for them. Since small kids may not be able to reach the sink, make sure they have water in the refrigerator or the refrigerator door. If kids have their own water bottle they can easily fill them up with water that’s within their reach. Kids like to imitate what adults do, but they also like their independence. If kids have their own kids water bottle and don’t have to ask for permission from adults they feel more empowered.
• Make water tasty – Adults and kids alike are more likely to drink more water if it tastes good. Studies have shown that kids will only drink about 50% of the water they actually need if it’s plain and about 90% if it’s flavored. There are plenty of ways to do that even without added sugar. Simply adding some fruit like lemons, limes or oranges helps add flavor to the water without adding sugar or calories. It’s a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and drink mixes.

These methods may not make a lot of sense to adults, but the point is to get kids to drink more water. If kids have their own kids water bottle and easy access to some flavored water, they will drink more water and you can rest easier knowing that they are safe from dangerous dehydration.