Summer hydration tips for kids! Have a busy bee who will barely sit down for a meal let alone a drink? Here are some summer hacks for keeping them cool and safe.
Tis the season of running through the sprinkler, biking to the playground, playing with friends, and a mix of days at summer camp and at home.
Everybody’s summer looks different, but many parents and caregivers still have similar concerns about their kids in the hotter months. With all the activities over the summer, and kids often running around nonstop, how can you ensure your child is getting enough fluids?
Start by understanding how much water babies, toddlers, and children need, and then be intentional about keeping hydrating foods and beverages available to them throughout the day.
Here are 7 summer hydration tips for kids to help ease your mind.
1. Let them pick out a new cup or water bottle.
Sometimes it’s all about switching up the cup.
If it’s in the budget, take your child to pick out a special new water bottle for the summer. Encourage them to carry it with them and get them in the habit of filling it up in the morning (and whenever it runs out).
Alternatively, have your child pick out a cup each morning that they can use for the day. This bit of independence can make a big difference, especially for littler kids.
2. Enter: silly straws.
What better way to entice a child (or grown-up, let’s be honest) to take a sip of something than by serving it with a silly straw?
Grab a multi-pack of these for cheap and keep them on hand for those days when your kiddo seems less than interested in staying hydrated.
Plus, you can toss these into your bag for travel and other summer adventures when the need strikes.
3. Make it a game.
If your child is into games and challenges, there are ways to make staying hydrated fit the bill.
For example, put a marker line around a cup and say something like, “Do you think you can drink down to this line by lunchtime today?”
Another idea is to get a water bottle that has pre-draw lines on it. Having a visual for kids to check in with and manage can be encouraging.
4. Incorporate water-rich foods.
In addition to drinking fluids, kids can also meet their daily hydration needs by incorporating plenty of foods that are naturally rich in water: fruits and vegetables!
Some great options include:
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Grapes
- Berries
- Pears
- Peaches
- Pineapple
- Leafy greens
For more on this, see our post Foods to Keep Your Toddler Hydrated.
5. Homemade popsicles and smoothies.
Popsicles and smoothies are basically summer staple foods in our house. While the storebought ones are convenient and tasty, we prefer the ability to control the ingredients – and making them at home is so easy.
Try our Tropical Mango Pineapple Popsicles (no-added-sugar) or Frozen Lemonade Popsicles, and then check out our blog post 5 Plant-Based Healthy Smoothies for Kids.
Plus, you can pour leftover smoothies into popsicle molds or push-up bags and pop them into the freezer!
We’ve been sharing lots of homemade popsicles and smoothies on our Instagram account, so head over there for more ideas.
6. Serve fluids with meals and snacks.
If your child is more likely to sit down for a meal or snack than they are to grab a drink of water, be sure to serve fluids at these times (as well as having them accessible throughout the day).
It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to be there. Serving a plate of apples and almond butter? Have a glass of soy milk on the side.
7. Try natural flavors.
Sometimes it’s less about the “fun factor” of the drink than about the drink itself. Plain water may be the best choice for preventing dehydration, but it can get a little boring.
To up the excitement factor about what’s in your child’s cup, try rotating in either unsweetened seltzer water or plain water flavored with natural ingredients like sliced cucumber, lemon wedges, raspberries, or herbs like parsley, rosemary, or holy basil.
If you grow any of these things at home, it can be fun for your child to pick them from the garden and help prepare and add them to a pitcher for the day.
Have fun this summer! And practice these summer hydration tips for kids to help make sure everyone stays cool.
Chime In: Have other hydration hacks for kids this summer? Share yours in the comments!
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