4 Tips for Keeping Your Child Hydrated
As your child starts going to day camp, you want them to enjoy their summer and make new friends. One way they can do this is by staying healthy and safe!
With all of the fun that comes from a day at camp, it’s easy for youngsters to forget to drink water. Let’s take a look at the importance of hydration for young children, as well as four tips for keeping your child hydrated this camp season.
The Importance of Hydration in Children
Hydration is important to the health and well-being of children and adults alike. Drinking enough water keeps our bodies functioning as they should and also helps us maintain a healthy body weight.
Water is the body’s most important nutrient. In addition to helping children maintain a healthy weight, hydration also regulates body temperature, transports nutrients through the body, and helps maintain blood pressure. As such, it’s important for children to stay hydrated so they can continue their normal growth and development.
The first day of day camp can be particularly tough on your child. Of course, you still want them to have a fun and safe time when they are not at home, but you also don’t want them to get dehydrated during the course of their day! Here are a few ways to keep your camper hydrated:
Pack a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day.
Parents who worry that their children will let themselves get dehydrated while at camp have a very valid concern — dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue and irritability.
The best way to ensure your child is getting enough fluids is to make sure he or she has access to water at all times throughout the day. The National Resource Center on Child Health and Safety recommends keeping a container of water with your child at all times and packing a bottle of water with your child when going out.
Set an example at home.
Leading by example is an incredibly effective method for teaching children about healthier habits. It’s often assumed that children will do what they see their parents doing, not what they are told to do. This means that you can encourage your child to drink more water by drinking more water yourself.
Parents should set an example, starting at home. It may seem simple, but it’s one of the most effective ways to teach new behaviors to your child. There are many ways to do this without saying a word. By drinking water yourself, you show your child that it is important and allow him or her to see how much you enjoy it, as well as its benefits.
Pack some veggies.
To keep your child hydrated and healthy, an easy way is to pack them plenty of fresh veggies like carrots, celery, cucumber, and peppers. Not only do they taste great with hummus you can also pack in a small container, but they can also be sliced into sticks and dipped into ranch dressing.
To make packing and distributing the veggies even easier, pre-slice them at home or purchase a veggie tray that’s already pre-cut to send with your child to day camp.
Remind your camper to drink water throughout the day.
It’s no secret that proper hydration is essential to good health. But when you’re a kid away at day camp – running around, playing sports, and having fun – it’s easy to forget how important water is to the human body.
When parents remind their campers to drink more water consistently throughout the day, children are encouraged to build these healthier habits while away at day camp.
All of those long days at camp during the hot summer can make a kid pretty thirsty, and with all that activity it’s easy to get carried away and drink more than you should. The good news is, it’s also pretty easy to stay on track by drinking water or other healthy beverages throughout the day.
To learn more about the benefits of day camp or to enroll your child for the next camp season, contact us today!