To go about their everyday lives, children, like adults, require large amounts of water. As a parent, you may find it challenging to determine your child's exact water needs. If you are wondering how to keep children hydrated in summer, you have arrived at the right place!
Your bones, skin, heart, lungs, and brain contain a lot of water. This essential vitamin accrues many benefits, including regulating core body temperature, promoting normal digestion, eliminating waste products, and preventing constipation.
Plus, there's proof that kids whose bodies are well hydrated have better attention, memory, and temperament. To top it all off, it's cheap, which is great news since it's the drink that doctors recommend most. As we brave the scorching Indian summer, what are some healthy summer drinks for children that one can make at home? Listed below are some of the best ways to keep kids cool in the Indian heat!
Keeping Children Hydrated: A Fun and Engaging Activity
Children begin to express themselves more freely and without reservation when they enter puberty. Some people find water to be just plain dull, and water doesn't taste well and doesn't seem very appealing. As a result, keeping children properly hydrated requires an engaging approach. Need some ideas for healthy summer drinks for children? Freezing fruit in ice cubes is one way to make it a visually appealing and delicious addition. Choose a fruit that your child loves. Cut it into pieces that are just the right size to go into the ice cube tray slots. Pour water into the pan and put it in the freezer. Next, fill a glass halfway with water and add the cubes when you realise it's a really hot summer day.
Hydration tips for toddlers in summer
Little ones might also have strong opinions. They simply convey it differently now that they are older. They like to show their emotions rather than tell others what to do. Some of them refuse to drink the water, despite how much they need it. Put some joy into it.
Need a cheat sheet for the best ways to keep kids hydrated in the summer? Various coloured mugs with bendy straws are available for purchase. Even pre-literate infants can identify logos. Things bought specifically for them are also easily identifiable. They will proudly claim the cup as their own if you buy it just for them. The best part is that they will eventually seek out the cup whenever they are thirsty, regardless of whether it has water or not.
Make water interesting!
Water isn't always dull, is it? To make your own flavoured water, try the following steps. Add some cucumber slices and possibly some garden herbs such as basil or mint. You can also add non-sweetened electrolytes or flavour drops to make water more appealing to your little ones!
Summer nutrition tips for kids: Use fruits!
A delicious and healthy summer treat is a mixture of frozen fruit and yoghurt. When the weather becomes hot, try making strawberry yoghurt popsicles, which are great for the entire family! They are not only delicious but also very simple to prepare. Try freezing portions of sliced fruit for a simpler solution. It's a wonderful way to have a refreshing snack on the road. The list goes on and on: strawberries, grapes, watermelon, mango, and so forth.
Hydration tips for infants
Every responsible parent understands that their infant requires continuous care. Babies understand emotions long before they can articulate them verbally and they just convey them in the most limited ways they can. In most cases, this manifests as cries or grabs at things. Consequently, make sure your infant can see it and stay hydrated – note that most babies under the age of 6 months should only be dependent on the mother's milk or formula. Please consult your doctor before you introduce filtered water to your child! A baby's thirst is a natural sense and they will instinctively grab their bottle or sippy cup the moment they see it. Repeat the process with older kids. Make sure to have pitchers of water in a conspicuous area of the kitchen. Put their cup somewhere they can readily get to if you think they can pour themselves a glass of water. Next, maintain a consistently filled pitcher.
Include hydrating elements in your children’s diets
By adding a variety of tasty toppings, you can transform yoghurt and smoothies into the breakfast of champions for your children. Make a delicious parfait by layering low-sugar granola, luscious fruit, and protein- and calcium-rich Greek yoghurt. Make a tropical fruit yoghurt smoothie like the ones you'd find on a beach without leaving your home with this recipe!
Strict Hydration No-Nos
- Drinks sweetened with sugar: For children less than two, establish a firm no-drinks policy. And with your older kids, do your best to limit them. Sports beverages, fruit cocktails, carbonated water, lemonade, and soda all fall within this category. Added sugars are associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and other health problems.
- Juices: Even 100% juice has its limits. Although certain vitamins may be present in juice, the sugar content is considerable, and the amount of beneficial fibre is minimal compared to whole fruits. It might be challenging to convince toddlers to drink water without juice once they've had the sweet treat.
- Flavoured milk: Sugar content in flavoured milk is often substantially greater than in regular milk. The extra sweets should be avoided, even if the vitamins and calcium are beneficial.
- Beverages sweetened artificially: The potential dangers of artificial sweeteners on children's health are yet poorly known. So, it's wise to stay away from such beverages. Instead, promote optimal hydration by making water easily accessible.