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Home » Recipes » Beverages » 16 IDEAS TO KEEP KIDS HYDRATED

16 IDEAS TO KEEP KIDS HYDRATED

July 18, 2013 by Crystal McClean

We’re well into summer here in the northern hemisphere.  The weather here in Northern Ireland is usually a far cry from the dry, hot days of my first 3 decades on the Canadian Prairies.  However, we have had some great heat here recently and with Phil off work, we’ve been taking full advantage of it by gardening, barbecuing, and doing beach crafts.

16 Tips for Keeping Kids Hydrated by Crystal's Tiny Treasures

16 tips to stay hydrated

While us adults know when we are thirsty and we’ll stop our activities to have a drink, our little ones may not be able to verbalise how they are feeling or want to stop their play to rehydrate.  Thus it’s extra-important for us to keep our children healthy and happy and hydrated during the warm weather.Seashell crafts, summer crafts, camping crafts, beachtime fun for kids, photo

Here are my top 16  tips on keeping kids hydrated:

  1. Start the day right by serving your children extra milk in their cereal along with a big drink on the side.
  2. Keep a jug of water in the fridge so that there will always be some refreshing, cold water ready for thirsty throats.
  3. For toddlers and preschoolers you can keep a child-sized jug in the fridge and let them pour their own water.  They’ll think it’s a ‘cool’ novelty and at the same time they’re also working on their motor skills!
  4. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, there is no need to suppliment with water, just keep feeding your baby on demand and your body will adjust accordingly!  Contact your local La Leche League group leader if you have any questions.Keeping babies hydrated, 16 tips for staying hydrated, Crystal's Tiny Treasures, photo
  5. Use a special cup if your child isn’t interested in drinking.  Sometimes using a ‘grown up’ coffee mug will do the trick to make them feel special.
  6. If your child is old enough, be sure to use ice cubes in their drinks.  Those magical little cubes keep melting and children love to watch the process and sip up the cold liquid.
  7. Serve chilled soup for lunch in a fancy glass and give it a new name.  Soups that you use the blender for are perfect for this, such as carrot, squash & sweet potato, tomato, etc.  My children love chilled soup and have it by their own requests.
  8. Make some healthy homemade popsicles for those extra hot days and when the children deserve a treat.  Our latest batch was cranberry juice with pineapple chunks.Olympic champs, water cover, kids and stickers, keeping water cool, photo
  9. Why not make a special thermal bottle to take with you when you’re out and about with the kids?  Keep your water cool, look cool, and learn a little science at the same time!
  10. Serve lots of veggies for snacks.  They are packed full of water, colourful, and can be served up many ways-slices, sticks, done up on a skewer.
  11. Throw a bottle of water into your car or stroller for future use.  It may be warm later, but warm water is better than nothing if you’ve been caught up later than you expected while out.  It can also be used to top up your radiator or window washer fluid levels in the event it is needed.
  12. If your little ones are tired of water and you need them to drink, add about 10% real fruit juice 90% water.  This little bit of juice won’t have any nutritional content, and the acid isn’t good for young teeth between meals, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep them drinking.
  13. Along the same vein, water is always best, but if you do treat your child to another drink between meal, be sure that there aren’t any artificial sweeteners in it.  They can cause more harm than sugar.  Always read your labels, drinks with bright coloured labels and cartoon characters rarely contain only fruit juice and water.
  14. Why not try making a smoothie for a snack.  Throw some fruit, yoghurt, and milk in a blender and voila!  Use a little extra milk and/or some ice cubes to increase the fluid content.Preschool science, fun with fruit, float or sink activity, lemons and limes, Crystal's Tiny Treasures Chldminding, photo
  15. Make good, old-fashioned lemonade.  And while you are doing this, add a little float and sink science to it!
  16. And finally, now that you have the kids hydrated and happy, don’t forget about yourself.  If you’re not hydrated you’ll not feel well and the kids need you happy and energetic, too!
READ MORE:   Surviving A Power Outage With Kids: 50 Fun Activities

What else would you add to this list?  Please let us know what you do! Have a wonderful summer, no matter where you are or what you are doing!

See our page about beverages for more drink ideas, and browse through our summer fun page for ideas to keep the children busy and learning!

Filed Under: Beverages, Summer

About Crystal McClean

I am a Mom, Wife, Home Educator, and Virtual Assistant. We love to have fun together while learning and exploring our environment.

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Comments

  1. Laura M says

    July 18, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    I had this on my list of things to look up today! Thanks for sharing, coming by from Tender Moments. Have a great day!

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 18, 2013 at 6:07 pm

      I’m glad we could help, please let me know of any ideas you have 🙂

  2. Missy Homemaker says

    July 18, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    Important info for older kids too. My 5 year old will get so busy playing that he won’t want to stop to come get a drink. I have to call him in 🙂 Great post.

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 20, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      So many things are more fun than water, keep up the great work calling your son in 🙂

  3. Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom says

    July 18, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    We like to keep water bottles filled in the fridge and then ready to take with us to sports, errands, etc. It’s also a bit frugal so I don’t have to buy them drinks when they get thirsty.

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 20, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      We did that just this morning. The bottles make the kids feel ‘grown up’ and having a healthy, free drink is so much better than spending cash when you don’t need to 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us!

  4. Stephanie says

    July 18, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Good tips! It’s topped out over 100 this summer here in Kansas, so we need all the help we can get!

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 20, 2013 at 3:19 pm

      It seems to be hot across North America, the UK, and Europe all at once, which is unusual! I hope the tornados aren’t too bad out your way this year. Enjoy your summer and keep cool and refreshed!

  5. becca says

    July 18, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    What a great list! This is definitely one to bookmark!

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 21, 2013 at 7:39 am

      I’m pleased you’ve found my list useful 🙂 Have a great summer!

  6. Tammy Doiel says

    July 18, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    Great ideas–healthy too! It’s a scorcher where I live today!

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 20, 2013 at 3:17 pm

      The sun is great, but it can be deadly. Have fun and spend some time in the shade while you are re-hydrating 🙂 Have a great summer!

  7. Courtney Wilson says

    July 18, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Excellent ideas! We don’t drink nearly enough water around here 🙂

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 19, 2013 at 7:50 pm

      It’s something we often forget 🙁 My mom is so good at remembering, i must try harder, too. Good luck!

  8. Colleen @ MommieDaze says

    July 19, 2013 at 12:42 am

    Great tips! We have smoothies for lunch often when it’s hot.

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 19, 2013 at 7:48 pm

      Smoothies are great, I must make them again, the kids do enjoy them, thanks for the reminder 🙂

  9. ANn says

    July 19, 2013 at 7:54 pm

    It’s HOT here right now and there isn’t much a/c in Germany. I really need to pay attention to your tips.

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 20, 2013 at 3:12 pm

      Have fun and stay cool if you can. It doesn’t often get hot enough to wish for a/c here (unlike ‘home’), but it has been too warm at night – we’ve actually taken cold water bottles to bed with us 🙂

  10. Bex Harding BusyBeeMummyBex says

    July 22, 2013 at 8:08 am

    Great blog post & certainly gave me a few ideas! 🙂 x

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 22, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      I’m so glad you were able to get a new idea 🙂 Have a terrific summer!

  11. Carrie says

    July 26, 2013 at 10:39 pm

    Some great ideas!! We bought glass water bottles and I always bring them in the car with us. I am finding my daughter is finally drinking more water. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    • Crystal McClean says

      July 27, 2013 at 6:32 pm

      Glass is coming back into fashion, isn’t it? And they would be much easier to clean and last longer than plastic 🙂 Great job bringing them along. I’m missing not using our stroller any more-it was like a portable trunk for me-now I have to carry everything on my back-including the water. Have a great summer!

Trackbacks

  1. Hearts for Home Blog Hop #27 - Upside Down Homeschooling says:
    July 25, 2013 at 10:01 am

    […] 16 Ideas to Keep Kids Hydrated from Crystal’s Tiny Treasures […]

 
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