When the summer heat hits, staying well hydrated is crucial – especially for active, growing bodies. But, if you find it hard to encourage your child to drink water, you’re not alone. Many children don’t like the taste of water, or simply don’t recognise that they’re thirsty.
Guardian Childcare and Education Rouse Hill Chef Kate Stephens has developed a range of clever tips for keeping children hydrated during the hot summer months. And, as Guardian Childcare and Education centres focus on their Summer Learning Programs, which involves many outdoor activities, in-house chefs like Kate are pulling out all the stops to ensure the children attending the program continue to drink up as they play and learn.
“My ideas always come from my experiences as a mother at home,” says Kate. “I feel like if something is important to me as a parent, then it’ll most likely be important to families at our centre, too.”
Drawing from her experiences as a mother and a chef in childcare, Kate’s shared 10 creative tips to increase your child’s water intake.
- Make funky ice cubes. Either stick to one colour, or experiment with a variety of food colourings to make something completely new. There are also so many fun ice-cube trays available now, including animals, objects and patterns.
- Add flavour. Use fruit slices or herbs from the garden to flavour ice cubes and add some excitement to a regular cup of water. We have herb and veggie patches at many of our Guardian centres, so we often do this. Alternatively, just flavour your water: purchase a clear dispenser then add fruit, herbs or even vegetables to the water each morning. This gives children the opportunity to learn how to use taps, too.
- Use frozen fruit chunks as ice cubes. Frozen grapes and watermelon balls are a favourite of mine. The children can scoop out the watermelon using a melon baller, which is an entertaining activity in itself.
- Make a batch of ice blocks. A summer staple! You can get creative with these, using fruit, a little fresh juice and water to create a delicious snack.
- Try soda water. Bubbles are fun, especially if you make your own soda water.
- Bottle it. Allow your child to pick out their own special drink bottle, just for water.You’ll want to find one that your child can use confidently, and, ideally, fill up themselves.
- Update your cups. Change it up and buy some new cups. You could even source a retro punch bowl, and set it up in the kitchen with water and ice cubes, allowing the children to scoop water into their cup whenever they’re thirsty.
- Play tea parties. Fill teapots with water and have your child practise pouring the‘tea’ and drinking it.
- Track your intake. There is an abundance of water tracker printouts available online, or you can make your own. Children will love ticking off their chart – make it fun with coloured textas or stickers. Make sure you set up one for yourself too – not only will you be role modelling, but it will do your body good, too.
- Start a conversation. Children love to chat, and bringing up the subject of water over mealtimes is always a good conversation starter. Ask your child questions like, “Did you know that our brains need water?”; “Do you have a favourite drink bottle? Why is it your favourite?”; and “Sometimes when I feel cranky a cold glass of water helps me feel better. What about you?”
The Summer Learning Programs are unique to each Guardian Centre and are tailored to the interests of the children, with many outdoor activities. These programs ensure that children have the opportunity to have a fun, engaging and social time during the holiday period, while continuing their learning journey. The programs also support Guardian families, as the summer period is often a busy time for parents who are juggling work and personal commitments.
If you would like to experience the Guardian difference, book a tour today!
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