By Felix Prayogo
Students, especially those in elementary schools, have a high probability of getting dehydration. The problem with these students is, that they don’t understand the early symptom of dehydration. There are several ways to teach them and make them understand about this issue, but sometimes students need another way to tell that they are hydrated enough, especially when in school. These are 5 ways to ensure that students stay hydrated.
Be a good role model.
Children tend to copy what’s around them, especially adults who are closest to them. Parents and older siblings are the ones who they try to copy. So why don’t you start to teach them how to keep hydrated. Tell them to drink a lot while in school. Don’t forget to bring tumbler for both you and the child, and give them an example of the importance of the drinking. You can also teach them how to identify early symptoms of dehydration so that they can tackle that easily. Being good around them makes them good children.
Include water-based foods at their lunchboxes.
Many fruits and vegetables are made up mostly of water, making it easy to get some extra hydration at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A few of favorites include cut-up watermelon, grapes, cucumber, and broccoli. For school, you can add fruits and vegetables to the menu. Children tend to love fresh fruits and of course, they will love some watermelon in their lunchboxes.
Let your child pick their bottle and lunchbox.
Children are much more likely to drink and eat what’s inside if they love the outside of their bottles and lunch boxes. Bottles and tumbler nowadays are varied in design and looks. Most likely children will choose bottles with their favorite cartoon characters on it. It’s an incentive for them to keep them hydrated. Probably it will cost you more, but it’s a small price to pay to keep them happy and hydrated at the same time.
Pack water – no matter how close the destination is.
Some parents may be indifferent to these tips as the school is near their house. But whatever the reason, ask them to bring their bottles (with water inside, of course). Keep them hydrated even if your home is close enough to the school and children will go home earlier than their friends.
Prefer water over other drinks.
When choosing drinks for kids, avoid those that have caffeine, such as iced tea or many sodas. As a diuretic, caffeine can contribute to the dehydration process by increasing fluid loss. In addition, as a stimulant, it can depress the symptoms of dehydration. Beverages such as soda or juice-flavored drinks might taste refreshing, but the high sugar content is unhealthy for many reasons and should be avoided for hydration except as a last resort.
We hope these tips help you and your children to keep hydrated at the school.
