How to Get Kids to Drink More Water
By Genevieve Cunningham
If kids are a part of your life, it's almost certain that their health is a priority. Sometimes luck is on your side and the kids already love all of the good stuff … fruits and veggies and all sorts of healthy options. But for the most part, kids are just like the rest of us. Once they get the taste of those unhealthy foods in their mouth, there’s no going back! One way to improve kids' health without them putting up too much of a fight is to make the transition to water as much as possible. But how can this happen successfully? Isn’t it still tough to do? Take a look at these tips for getting kids off of the sodas and juice and onto water in order to improve their health in a simple way.
Flavor It
Kids love flavor. That’s why everything for kids tastes like strawberry or bubblegum or cherry. They love it! If drinking more water is the goal, try adding a little flavor. Add some flavored powder or fruit … anything that gives it a little punch and a lot of flavor. As they make the transition from their current beverage to flavored water, slowly decrease the amount of flavor and get them accustomed to regular old H2O.
Be an Example
Don’t forget that kids will do what you do and not necessarily what you say. If you’re telling them to drink water, but soda is the go-to for all of the adults, they’re also going to reach for the soda. If the kids transitioning to more water is important, the adults in the family have to do it first. In fact, before you even try to transition the kids, go ahead and get yourself used to it. This makes the process easier for everyone if every person in the house is on the same page.
Make Them a Part of the Process
Kids absolutely love to be involved. They like to be a part of the process. If you want them to love water, let them help prepare it. Let them pick out and fill up their very own water bottle. Let them make their own ice with food coloring to make it fun. Let them throw in and mix up the powder. Whatever you can do to include them, the easier it’s going to be to get them to buy into drinking more.
Drinking more water is vital to everyone’s health, no matter if that person is a child or adult. If you want to get the kids on the healthy bandwagon, use these tips to drink more water every day. With some patience, some planning, and a little luck, the whole family will learn to love water for a lifetime of better health.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
