Water Makes Everything Better

Drinking water can help limit cranky moods, boost playful energy, and strengthen immune systems.

Hydration Habits for a Happier Life

The healthy routines we form as kids carry us into adulthood¹ and hydration is no different. Water is critical for kids’ minds and bodies and can help with:

Better Moods

Drinking water prevents dehydration, which can cause mood changes.^2,3,4,5

Stronger Immune Systems

Drinking water strengthens the immune system, loosens congestion, and prevents dehydration.^6,7,8,9

Easier Potty Time

Drinking water softens poop, helping kids have easier bowel movements.^10,11

Sharper Focus

The human brain is about 75% water,^12,13,14 and staying hydrated improves brain function and reduces fatigue.^15,16

Five Ways to Make Drinking Water at Home Easier for Children

Let your kids pick out their own sippy cups or water bottles.

Keep water at eye level and where little hands can reach.

Teach kids how to use the tap or pour smaller-size pitchers.

Silly straws, ice cubes, and added fruits make water more fun.

Model healthy habits by drinking water around your kids.

How Much Water Should Kids Drink Every Day?^17,18

desktop photo-parent and kid drinking water

1—3 years old

4 cups

4—8 years old

5 cups

9—13 years old

7-8 cups

14—18 years old

8-11 cups

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Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Increasing access to drinking water and other healthier beverages in early care and education settings.
Edmonds, C. J., & Jeffes, B. (2009). Does having a drink help you think? 6-7-Year-old children show improvements in cognitive performance from baseline to test after having a drink of water. Appetite, 53(3), 469–472.
Slidell Memorial Hospital. (n.d.). 8 signs that you are dehydrated.
Kenney, E. L., Long, M. W., Cradock, A. L., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2015). Prevalence of inadequate hydration among US children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012. American Journal of Public Health, 105(8), e113–e118.
Rethy, J. (2024, July 26). Choose water for healthy hydration. HealthyChildren.org.
Özkaya, İ.,l & Yıldız, M. (2021). Effect of water consumption over the immune system response given during Covid-19. Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 02(01), 040–044.
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. (2017, July 7). Five ways water can help you stay healthy. Kaiser Permanente.
McCallum, K. (2022, October 21). 6 ways to boost your immune system. Houston Methodist.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, July 12). Cold remedies: What works, what doesn’t. Mayo Clinic.
Restivo, J. (2023, August 10). 8 ways to get constipation relief. Harvard Health.
UCHealth Writers. (2024, June 25). Five reasons water is so important to your health. UCHealth.
Winston Medical Center. (n.d.). Human brain facts.
Water Science School. (2019, May 22). The water in you: Water and the human body. USGS.
Zhang, J., Zhang, N., Du, S., He, H., Xu, Y., Cai, H., Guo, X., & Ma, G. (2018). The effects of hydration status on cognitive performances among young adults in Hebei, China: A randomized controlled trial (RCT). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(7), 1477.
Malamut, M. (2019, November 14). Water helps kids focus, improves ability to multitask: study. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Neuroscience Program.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, June 5). Dehydration.
Children’s Health. (n.d.). Hydration tips for children.
Rethy, J. (2024, July 26). Choose water for healthy hydration. HealthyChildren.org.