Let Your Child Choose a Fun Cup
Choose a fun cup: Another way to encourage your child to drink water is to make their drinking container fun. Treating the cup special and encouraging your little one to drink water from their new “big kid” water bottle will help give them a sense of empowerment. Water bottles that have been personalized with your child’s name, such as the Playful Print ones found here, will also help the child take ownership of their water consumption.
Use a Fun Straw
Continuing with the fun theme, your little ones are much more likely to suck down a glass of water with a twisty straw. You can purchase wild bendy straws at most dollar stores. And don’t forget – the crazier the better! If you let your child use a straw, please urge them that they can’t walk around and drink while using a straw. If they were to trip and fall down, the straw could easily lodge in the back of their mouth.
Make Water Easy-to-Reach
Most children aren’t quite tall enough to fill their own cups from the sink. Consider putting a pitcher (with the little button dispenser at the bottom) on a low shelf in the fridge so they can easily fill up when they are thirsty, instead of reaching for a juice boxin the pantry.
Consider Using Reward Charts
If your child is really struggling with water intake, consider making a reward chart. Every time they drink a full glass of water they get a sticker to mark their progress. Once they reach a certain goal they can have a reward (such as a can of soda).
Author Bio
Hank McKinsey is a SAHD and blogger located in central California. Follow him on Twitter to see what he’s up to.
Comments
14 responses to “6 Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Drink More Water”
These are some really great tips. I love the idea of making them drink some water before they get their drink of choice. My toddler will probably forget about the sugary drink once her thirst is gone.
I usually don’t buy very many sugary drinks because I don’t want my kids to ask for them on a regular basis.
I got lucky and both of my boys will actually ask for water. When we have dinner I always ask if they want water, milk or juice and most of the time they ask for water.
I get upset when I go to birthday parties and all they have is soda 🙁 I’ve made it a habit to start taking bottled water, that way I don’t have to deal with sugar hyper kids later lol
I am guilty of buying soda for parties but I do keep bottled water in my house and offer that too. I also make unsweet tea sometimes too.
I’m glad my son likes to drink water. So far, I’ve never had an issue with his daily water intake. 🙂
That is good, I try to offer my kid water only unless we are out and about then they get whatever they want usually.
I like the fun straw idea. I believe children are more obedient when it’s fun.
My youngest likes to drink using a straw too. 😉
My kids do not drink near enough water – I love the tips, especially the reward stickers and the flavoring ideas. That just might work for mine.
I’m all for adding fruity stuff too…but with my kids I’ve found forcing it down their throats is always good, clean fun 😉
Hello,
Water plays an important role in our daily life. Without water we can not think to live a beautiful life. Drinking more water helps us to clean use less material from our body. I love all the tips which you have shared above.
Thanks
Dr. Diana Hardy
great tips you got here! thanks for sharing …
My youngest two drink more water than my teenage son. These are great ideas for my younger ones but my teenager drinks whatever he chooses.
Great ideas! All these are funny ways to get kids to drink more water. Artificial drinks causes so many health issues to the kids. I definitely like the idea of adding fruit to a child’s glass of water.