How to get your kids to drink more water (and actually enjoy it!)

This is a collaborative post

It’s important for children to drink enough water every day (around 240 ml per year of age until the age of 8). But most kids don’t stay properly hydrated. And if they are consuming fizzy drinks regularly, they are actually getting less hydration as a result of high sodium levels. 

Drinking enough water during childhood isn’t just about staying healthy in the short term. These are critical years for building healthy dietary habits. Children who learn to love water at a young age will enjoy it for their entire lives. Those that don’t are more likely to choose unhealthy drinks even when they’re adults. 

But tricking kids into drinking more water isn’t the solution; at least not a long-term one! . Instead, try these tips on how to get your kids to drink more water and learn to enjoy it.

Make water special and fun!

You might think that your kids hate drinking water. But that might not be the case – they probably just find it boring. Water is always available – it’s not a novelty like juice or fizzy drinks, it’s not had just on special occasions, and it’s not colourful or flashy like other drinks.

But… what if you could make water special? By offering it in colourful water bottles and crazy straws which little children find so appealing.

One bottle that really works with today’s tech-loving children is Auron. Auron is a smart water bottle that has a touchscreen display and LED lights built in (just like their phones and tablets). The bottle looks a bit like a rocket ship, so kids are naturally attracted to it. 

Auron is healthier for kids too. It’s a self-cleaning water bottle with a UV-light purifier in the lid. Every time you close the bottle, you can tap the lid to eliminate 99.99% of whatever microbes might be hiding inside. The purification takes 60 seconds. As it runs, it displays a countdown and a little light shows up on the bottle’s screen. It’s like a magical transformation happening right before your kids’ eyes. The anticipation and spectacle involved have them begging for a glass of the good stuff inside! Auron might not convince older kids to drink more water, but kids under 12 find it irresistible!  

The Auron bottles also have a vacuum-sealed insulator that can keep anything hot or cold for 24 hours. Which makes it perfect for my coffee-on-the-go as well! I love that I can see the temperature of my hot coffee on the touchscreen display without having to open the lid.

Auron is made to last decades, so you’ll get plenty of use from it. You can take 50% off your Auron Bottle with this link. 

Lead by example

It doesn’t just matter how special you make water seem or how many crazy straws and smart bottles you buy. You need to set an example by telling your kids how special water is and by drinking it yourself! 

If you tell your kids to drink more water while you sit back and sip a diet coke, they’re not going to develop those healthy habits. Children learn habits from their parents—even the little things. If you don’t enjoy water, neither will they.

If you’re a parent who doesn’t drink much water either, then this is a great opportunity to start drinking more water as a family. Start serving water at meals, at snack time and after school — these are all moments when we tend to opt for sugary drinks.   

Clear the fridge of sugary drinks

If you want to drink fewer sugary drinks and more water, you can’t keep those unhealthy drinks around! It’s not just about the temptation, for kids, the availability of other drinks will automatically make water less desirable. This will lead to daily conflicts over what to drink. However, children won’t argue about what to drink if there’s only one option! 

Better yet, they’ll actually learn to like water because they won’t have any resentment over what they could be drinking instead. 

Add natural flavours to water

Another way to get the boring out of your water is to add some natural colouring and/or flavour. Slices of fruit are a great option. Pique your child’s interest more by putting the flavoured water in a pitcher where the added fruit is visible. You can add anything you want, but the more of a rainbow you create, the more your kids will want to drink it. 

You can add thinly sliced oranges and lemons; blueberries and strawberry halves; lemon wedges along with sliced cucumbers or even cubed watermelon and a few mint leaves. The best way to make kids love water is to make them crave it!

Get exercising!

Water never tastes better than it does after a good bit of sport or exercise. When you’re sweaty and truly thirsty, you’ll notice that your body doesn’t even want sugary or fizzy drinks. It only craves water.

Many parents are struggling to get their kids to drink more water. The past year of lockdowns has left everyone cooped up inside. Most of us have forgotten what it’s like to move our bodies and work up a good thirst. 

Well, the sun is shining now and things are getting back to normal. There’s no safer place to enjoy some post-pandemic sunshine than your local park or beach. Go out to play, release some endorphins and drink plenty of water. 

Loving water is easier than you think!

So, with these tips and suggestions, you will find it easier to get your kids to enjoy water and drink it without complaining. In fact, they might even start preferring fruit-flavoured water to fizzy drinks, especially when they realise how much healthier an option it is!

Remember, the key to building these healthy habits is to make children feel good about drinking water! And Auron bottles help you do exactly that!!! So what are you waiting for; go get your Auron Bottle for 50% off at www.auronbottle.com