The Importance of Water
Not drinking enough water causes ill health.
Encourage yourchild to drink water.
Evidence from school nurses and school doctors show that many children suffer from discomfort such as stomach ache caused by constipation, poor appetite, frequent bladder infection, backache and bedwetting are linked to not drinking enough water.
Sweet drinks cause dehydration
Frequent sugary drinks cause the blood to become too sweet, fluid is drawn out
of body cells to dilute the high sugar levels in the blood, this then leads
to thirst and dehydration in the child. So of course a child then needs another
drink, if they are given another sugary drink this will just increase the problem
of thirst and de-hydration. De-hydration results in poor concentration and short
attention span.
De-hydration leads to restlessness
Children don’t always realise that they are thirsty, so they feel uncomfortable,
unwell, tired, lethargic and restless which in turn can lead to irritability.
Children at school are expected to concentrate, play well together, share toys
and to follow instructions from their teacher or to sit quietly and listen.
A child that is uncomfortable cannot always co-operate and may be labelled as
behaving badly or hyperactive when in fact they may just need a drink of water!
Sugary drinks
cause dental decay
It is a well documented fact that sugary drinks cause tooth decay, unfortunately
parents still supply their children with sugary drinks instead of water.
Make Water Interesting for Children
to Drink
Water could be kept cold in the ‘fridge, be given with ice cubes, given
with a straw to use and presented in a nice fancy glass. These simple things
make water more acceptable to children.
