Health Issues

With all the tantalizing drinks out on the market being aimed at kids, I get asked the same question all of the time How do you get your kids to drink water?

First of all lets explore the reasons and logic behind my approach to getting my kids to drink water. The most important reason is they need water. They are active and nothing hydrates better than water. Juice is great for the servings of fruit they can get if you get the right kind, but they are full of sugar, and, according to doctors, will give your child a sweet tooth. Milk is a healthy drink, it is full of calcium and Vitamin D, but it is also full of fat. So, while there are healthy choices out there, the healthiest is still water.

The important thing to remember when getting your kids to do something is to stick to it. They are going to whine, cry, and complain. They are going to act like they are dying of thirst. They will probably fight you endlessly on it, but that wont last too long.

The first step to getting them to drink water is to make it fun. Go to the store and let them pick out water bottles to carry their water in. Pick up an in fridge filter that dispenses easily, because you are going to want it cold and easy to get to. Get them home, and teach them to dispense their own water into their water bottles. Have towels handy there will be a few spills, but the sense of independence gained from this is going to make them want to get water!

The next thing you should do is get them on a drink schedule along with a meal schedule. The way I do it is with meals they have one glass of milk, and with snacks they have one glass of juice. Anything else for the rest of the day is water. If they are outside playing and come in thirsty, they can go to the fridge and get their own water. This way, I dont have to get up, and they can feel grown up.

The last step to making the kids drink water is drink it yourself. Making your house a soda free zone is a good way to accomplish this. Make sure you have a water bottle for yourself as well. Not having soda around will also stop you from giving in to the ease of popping a can open and handing it your child.