Well, it looks like the summer holidays are over and for our children that can only mean one thing – Back to school! Whilst this may not be great news for some of our youngsters, parents everywhere will be smiling at the thought of their little darlings studying for their future. But there is one aspect of this process that needs some serious consideration, how do we know for sure that our children are staying hydrated whilst out of our sight? This article takes a closer look at this potential issue and offers a few valid solutions.
Food and Water
Can you remember the fun and games that always surrounded the dinner times? Okay, the food may or may not have been up to Jamie Oliver's liking, but we managed to eat well enough. But how about taking enough fluids onboard throughout the school day to keep hydrated? Our children are constantly at risk of dehydration because of their lower body weight when compared to adults. They are also fairly reliant on their caregivers when it comes to dealing their thirst, particularly during a hectic school day.
Cognition and Water
Did you know that a typical child's body is made up of a whopping 60% of water? So it is no wonder that we need to monitor our child's hydration levels around the clock. As well as being a health risk, any level of dehydration can seriously degrade our children's cognitive functions. By topping up regularly with water whilst at school, we can ensure that our kids stay both healthy and alert enough to take in the information that is being taught in the classrooms.
Water or Fizzy Drinks?
It's no secret that most kids will choose a fizzy drink over a cool glass of water any day of the week, but is that so bad? Well, it is actually because many of these seemingly attractive drinks contain a lot of sugar and that can lead to obesity, tooth decay and even more serious health issues further down the road. Thankfully, movements like the School Food Trust are making sure that our children are being looked after at school with regards to their dietary and hydration requirements. More schools are now installing school water coolers and these are usually connected to the mains with a chilled and filter system integrated in an effective manner.
The Future?
With the progress being seen in our educational establishments, such as water fountains for schools and water coolers being more commonplace than ever before, we can look forward to some much needed peace of mind when our children are out of sight but not out of mind. A typical child needs between 6 and 8 glasses of water every day, so is your child staying hydrated?
