Convincing your kids to do the most basic, everyday tasks can feel like a constant battle. For some parents, this battle involves getting their children to drink enough water every day. It’s always something—either they don’t like the taste, they’re so busy with other activities that they forget, or they simply can’t be bothered to take a break to hydrate. If this sounds suspiciously like your own experience, learn how to motivate your kids to drink more water with this article.
Make It Accessible
The first step to getting your kids to drink more water is making sure it’s fully accessible to them. If your kids are young, make sure they are able to reach the water spigot to serve themselves. If they are not, fill a cup or water bottle and leave it on a lower counter or table for them. To ensure clean water is readily available throughout your home, consider installing a whole house water filtration system. Kids are notorious for drinking out of any tap that’s convenient, so make sure that whatever water comes out of that tap is clean and safe.
Incorporate Flavor
If the taste is the problem for your kids, that’s an easy fix. Make their water more exciting by adding a bit of flavor. You can easily infuse their water with some healthy flavors by adding tasty fruits and veggies to the mix. Some good options to try are oranges, lemons, and berries.
Give Them Some Fun Cups
Add a little extra incentive to drink water regularly by letting your kids pick out their own fun cups, mugs, or water bottles. Cups and water bottles come in plenty of fun designs, so there’s something out there for every kid. They’ll enjoy the independence of choosing their own drinkware, and they’ll be more excited to use a water bottle or cup they love for occasional drinks!
Get Creative with Ice Cubes and Straws
You can make the experience of drinking water extra fun by getting creative with fun ice cubes or straws. What kid doesn’t love drinking water out of a twisty or bendy straw? To make your average ice cube more exciting, try purchasing a novelty ice cube tray that creates ice cubes in fun shapes. You can also try freezing fruit or adding a touch of flavor to the ice cubes to make them (and the water) taste better.
Now that you know how to motivate your kids to drink more water, get creative and put these strategies to the test. One of them is sure to work, and once your kids realize that drinking water can be fun, they’ll drink more and gain all the benefits that it has to offer.