Hydration is an often-overlooked aspect of a child’s health and well-being. This is especially true during the summer when kids can become dehydrated very easily when they’re out in the hot weather running around all day. Be sure to check on your children throughout the day and stress to them how important it is to keep liquids in their body. Here are some ways to keep kids hydrated in the summer:

1. Better Water

Many times it can be tough to get your children to drink ”boring” water. When this is the case, there’s plenty of ways to make water more enjoyable for kids. The most effective way is to use sugar-free drink mixes to turn water into lemonade, iced tea, or fruit punch. Also, adding seltzer to these concoctions will provide the bubbly sensation your kids love in soda, but without the sugar.

2. Fun Cups

If you can make hydration fun for your kids, it’ll be a lot easy to keep them drinking liquids throughout the summer. Bring your children to the store and allow them to pick out their favorite drinking cup or travel bottle designs and colors. Buy some crazy straws to make these even more interesting for them. You can even find ice cube trays that make fun shapes out of water.

3. Popsicles

Popsicles are one of the easiest ways to get your kid excited about staying hydrated. Kids love eating flavored ices when they’re running around in the hot sun all day. Be sure to find some sugar-free versions of their favorite flavored popsicles and ice-pops so they can enjoy their treats with health in mind.

4. Fruits and Vegetables

Offering up some fruit or vegetables to your child will not only provide them with some important vitamins and minerals, but it’ll also help to keep them hydrated. Many fruits and veggies have a very high water content, such as watermelon, strawberries, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, and others.

5. Reminders

If you can set up some type of reminder system for your kids to drink water, you’ll be able to track their hydration more effectively. One idea is to create a chart and hang it on the fridge. Every couple of hours your child has to make a note on the chart that says they’ve drank another glass of water for the allotted time. This will give you peace of mind knowing they’re hydrated all day.

Written by Alicia Overby - Founder & President of Baby Elephant Ears

Alicia is wife, mother, and creator of Baby Elephant Ears. Baby Elephant Ears was created out of parental concern, not financial desire. In 2005, when their second child was an infant, he cried all the time and just couldn't seem to get comfortable.

After seeking advice and suggestion from the medical community and alternative medicine, they eventually ended up in the chiropractors office where their baby was successfully treated for asubluxation, discomfort most likely the result of the strain during labor, which was now being exacerbated by the normal lack of infant neck strength. Only proper neck, head, and back alignment would offer him relief. When they couldn't find a product to give their baby the necessary support, Alicia took matters into her own hands and crafted her own infant support pillow. The first Baby Elephant Ears was born!

For more information, visit www.babyelephantears.com.

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