Hydration is vital to everyone, and you already know the value of drinking eight glasses of water a day. While you are busy working those eight glasses in for yourself, it’s equally important to ensure that your kids drink enough water.

The amount of water your child needs to have will depend on their age, weight, gender, and activity level. In general, your children should drink six to eight glasses of water each day. They should also have generous servings of fruits and vegetables, which have a high moisture content in addition to necessary vitamins and nutrients.

As a guide, the following ages should drink this much water:

  • 5-8 years old: 5 glasses
  • 9-12 years old: 7 glasses
  • 8-10 glasses: 13+ years

And of course, they should drink more if they’ve been exercising or playing on a hot day.

Here are a few tips to make it easier to work water into your child’s day:

  • Teach and encourage them to use the faucet to fill their cups, or show them how to use the water dispenser on the fridge.
  • Make a water-drinking game, and give a prize when your child drinks enough water.
  • Reward your child with a sticker for drinking water, or do a special dance each time they do.
  • Let your child choose their own special cup to use only for water.
  • Keep the cup in reach where they can get their water for refills.
  • Use fun straws to drink from – like crazy straws, magic wands, or mustache straws.
  • Use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes to color and flavor water.
  • Freeze ice in cool shapes, using penguin-shaped ice cube trays, jewels, or a favorite character.
  • Buy small water bottles in 4 or 8 oz. that are easy for kids to hold and carry.
  • Freeze some freezer-safe water bottles for ice-cold water all day long.
  • Choose water instead of other beverages when eating out. (This will save money and reduce calories!)
  • Swap seltzer water to make a bubbly drink that’s more appealing and a change of pace.
  • Reward your children with a small glass of juice or chocolate milk at dinner, after they meet their water goal for the day.

Be an example!

Carry a water bottle with you, and keep one in the car for you and your child. Be sure to put a bottle in their backpack for school, so they can sip throughout the day. Be a role model for your children, and help them establish the habit of drinking eight glasses of water every single day for a lifetime.