Water Wise Kids
Click here to view the document.Tap Water Helps Keep Kids Healthy
Teaching kids to eat and drink healthy should include some simple lessons straight from the household tap.
Nutritionists and pediatricians agree that selecting water instead of sugared drinks will help build good nutrition habits that will last a lifetime. It?s also a tough habit to teach. In fact, more than 70 percent of preschool children never drink plain water, according to a 1995 study from the Archives of Disease in Childhood. This is a sobering statistic considering how essential water is for keeping children properly hydrated.
Pediatrics magazine says many children don?t drink enough water because they were raised on sugared beverages and juices. This trend, along with poor nutritional habits, has led to increases in childhood obesity throughout the nation. Sugared drinks are not a healthy source of hydration and can cause damage to proper development. A 50-pound, active child, for example, needs about a quart of water each day to stay hydrated.
According to the American Dietetic Association, children cannot tolerate temperature extremes as well as adults. They sweat less, produce more heat and acclimate to heat more slowly. These all lead to a greater risk of dehydration, even during cold months.
See the other poster board for a few hints and tips for parents to help keep kids hydrated and healthy.
Encourage and Educate
- Encourage children to drink water before they become thirsty, especially prior to and during sports or play activities.
- Establish ?Water Days? in the household as a way to decrease the number of sugared drinks offered to a child at snack times.
- Encourage your child to research water?s health benefits for their next science project.
