Stupid simple strategies: get your kids to drink more water

My friend noticed that my kids drink a lot of water and wanted to know how I made that happen. She said that her kids remind her that they need their water bottles before they go out anywhere because that is what my kids do. What? How great is that to hear? My little influencers. Wink!

After noticing this, in hindsight, there are several things we do to help make water a central part of our everyday life in our home. And the stupid simple strategies of how you can do it, too!

Water is a Privilege

I would be remiss if I did not address what a privilege readily available, affordable, clean drinking water is. We have neighbors who have not always had this privilege.

In addition, I know that people groups and families around the world have little access to the water they need and deserve. You can learn about one way to help be a part of the solution to solve water scarcity around the world here at The Water Project here.

Water is life; drink more

I’m sure you’ve heard it said that our bodies are 60% water. To stay healthy, we have to stay hydrated. We know this.

It is also clear that when it is hot or when we are sweating, we need to replace the water lost by drinking. Noted. Water serves so many functions in the body including:

Boosts energy
Aids digestion
Removes toxins
Hydrates the skin
Helps with mental clarity
Promotes a healthy weight
Supports the immune system
And many more benefits!

Further, we also know that sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are just thirsty, so instead of eating more calories than aren’t necessary at the moment, a glass of water could do the trick.

We know all this, so why don’t we drink more water?

Some people say they do not like water. We get so used to drinking vibrant flavors and the sweetness of sugar and other sweeteners, so I can understand why water would seem bland.

But the truth about why we don’t drink as much water as WE KNOW we should is because of HABITS. Yes, drinking water is not a habit, so we do not do it. It is stupid-simple.

Let’s fix that!

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Drink more water than what?

Before we move forward learning how to drink more water, let’s define “more”. How much water is the goal? Harvard Health recommends 4-6 cups a day. Some have a formula for how much water you should drink, like this one at SlenderKitchen.

Others calculate it by taking your body weight in pounds, divided by 2. That is the number of ounces one should drink each day, for example:

128 pounds/2 = 64
Drink 64 ounces a day (8 cups or 2 quarts)

What if we have other factors like medication that depletes water from the body (diuretic). Do you get a lit little or a lot of physical activity? What if where you live is very dry? Does the weather get hot where you are? Are you eating foods with high water content, like

How do we know if we need to drink more water or not?

Know if YOU need to drink more water

I prefer a natural approach to guide me. Drink water if I am thirsty or if my body needs it. But, Jaime, what if I am not thirsty or I am not sure if I am?

Here’s a little trick. This may be taboo, but urine is a great way to see how hydrated we are. First, if you are not going to the bathroom often – only 1-2 times during the whole day – you need more water.

Then, when you go, look in the bowl. If it is dark yellow toward brown when one goes, he or she is dehydrated. When urine is clear, one is over-hydrated. If it is light yellow (lemonade), that may indicate a healthy amount of water in the system. Bravo!

Get kids to drink more water with these stupid easy strategies

• Strategies:
  • Prioritize Water
  • Keep it handy
  • Don’t leave home without it
  • Enjoy it

Now, without further ado…whatever amount of water you decide is best for you, here are the strategies to help you accomplish your goal! How to get your kids to drink more water with these stupid simple strategies.

Prioritize water

The first strategy to drink more water is to prioritize it. Drink as soon as you wake up. After sleeping and not drinking for several hours, we need water. I love coffee, but if I haven’t had my morning hydration yet, it will have to wait.

Drinking as soon as we wake up is a great way to get our bodies humming for an energetic day. I have noticed that when I drink water in the morning, I feel more alert and awake earlier.

Everyone is served water with meals. Also throughout the day, before we have juice or milk (except infants) or anything else, we enjoy our water in first.

We have prioritized water so much that water is what my kids ask for – not juice or anything else. Throughout the day, when home or out and about, water cups or bottles for the kids are with us. It feels great to prioritize priorities.

Anchor the habit

Anchoring will help make water a good habit. Anchoring a habit is connecting it to another existing consistent behavior to build your new habit on. You can read more about habit anchoring here.

For example, before bed, we get fresh water ready for everyone. First thing in the morning, we can drink it. In the evening, we are already doing dishes and getting food prepped for the next day, so we get water ready anchored to that behavior.

As part of our evening routine, a fresh set of water cups (with lids) are filled and taken to the bedrooms. Keeping water ready by the bed helps anchor the habit for them to drink to thirst in the early morning.

These are our favorite cups for the bedroom because they spill-free and can be sipped from any direction even lying in bed. You can grab them at your local discount store, also here is a link to the 360 cups from Munkin on Amazon here.

Anchoring our water habit on other consistent behaviors helps us drink more water.

Keep water handy

Just like having water ready on the night table, we have water handy all day as well. If water is accessible, people are more likely to drink it. I am no scientist, but it has been proven in this house.

We each use one cup all day long (if it gets gross, it is washed). We have a specific place in the kitchen it sits throughout the day or it goes with us in a little tote when we leave the house.

If I see a cup is empty or if someone asks for help, I fill it. This is part of our rhythm, a constant habit throughout most days.

Having water handy all day helps us drink more water.

Don’t leave home without it

Another unspoken strategy to help my family drink more water is to not leave home without it. Every time, we leave the house, we take water cups or bottles with us.

I posted about our water habits on Instagram recently. Here’s a link to the post:

Below are links to the kind of totes we like. They are big enough for a few cups and snacks, but small enough that we can fit them in a day tote (diaper bag, for example). This goes with us everywhere and I toss it in the wash regularly. We’re not as tempted to buy over-priced sugary soft drinks or snacks when we have fresh water in-hand.

To drink more water. Don’t leave home without it.

Enjoy your water

There is some debate on which filtering system is best and if city water or well water is good enough. You can do some research regarding the water in your area.

For us, when the water is filtered and refrigerated, it tastes better and we drink more.

Bonus: Filtering our own tap water and using reusable bottles keeps thousands of plastic bottles out of the landfills, which I feel good about.

Another way to enjoy carrying your water is to love what you are drinking our of.

I like using stainless steel insulated bottles like the one pictured here because:

• Keeps water cold
• Does not sweat (condensation)
• Won’t leak. With the twist on lid, I do not worry about spills.
• Won’t break, like glass
• Do not leach chemicals into my water (like plastic bottles can)
• Are 100% recyclable. The stainless steel can be completely reused even after its useable life as a water bottle

Lastly, infusing water with a small amount of juice or real fresh fruit is a great way to enhance the flavor of water.

You can add lemon, lime, mint leaves, watermelon, cucumbers, strawberry, cherry, orange, basil, pineapple, honeydew melon, ginger, raspberry, kiwi or anything else you can dream up and in any combination.

To drink more water, enjoy it.

Water is life!

When my friend noticed that my kids drink a lot of water and wanted to know how I made that happen. She said that her kids remind her that they need their water bottles before they go out anywhere because that is what my kids do. What? How great is that to hear? My little influencers. Wink!

So that is how we drink more water and the stupid simple strategies of how you can do it, too!

• Prioritize Water
• Keep it handy
• Don’t leave home without it
• Enjoy it

I love connecting with my readers.

Please leave a comment, or find me on social media @altogethermostly

About the author, Jaime

Here at Altogether Mostly, you will find grace, compassion, joy, and beauty. I use empathy and a little tough love to bring out the best in people. I live in the Midwest United States with my loving husband and awesome children. For more about me and Altogether Mostly, please visit my about page here.