Hydrate Your Family: Top Tips to Encourage Your Kids to Drink More Water
The good news is that there are steps you can take to encourage your kids to drink more water.
12/09/2025
Every parent wants to do what they can to keep their kids healthy and happy. This includes stimulating activities, a healthy home environment, and a balanced diet, among other things. One thing that a lot of parents struggle with is trying to get their kids to enjoy healthy hydration through drinking water, as kids naturally gravitate toward beverages like squash and sodas.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to encourage your kids to drink more water. From leading by example to investing in water filters South Africa parents will find a range of simple tips to help. In this article, we will look at some of the ways you can get your kids to happily drink more water.
Steps You Can Take
There are a few simple steps you can take if you want to increase the chances of your kids drinking fresh water rather than unhealthier alternatives. Some of these include:
Make Water Fun!
Children are more likely to drink water if it is easy to reach and presented in a fun way. Instead of relying solely on standard glasses, consider giving your child their own special water bottle or cup with their favourite characters or bright colours. Reusable bottles with straws or flip-tops are very popular among youngsters. Keep water within reach at home, in the car, and in school bags, so it becomes the default option whenever they feel thirsty. Adding natural flavours can also make water more inviting. Fresh fruit slices such as strawberries, cucumber, lemon, or orange give the water a gentle flavour without added sugar.
Lead by Example
Children often base their habits on what they see. If they notice you reaching for water regularly, they will be more likely to follow suit. Make drinking water a visible part of your family life. For instance, pour everyone a glass at mealtimes, bring bottles along on outings, and talk casually about how refreshing it feels. Also, avoid keeping sugary drinks in the house as an everyday option. By limiting their availability, you can reduce the temptation and subtly reinforce water as your family’s main source of hydration.
Invest in a Water Filter
Sometimes children avoid drinking water simply because they don’t like the taste from the tap. This is where investing in a good-quality water filter can make a real difference. A filter can remove impurities, reduce chlorine, and deliver a fresher, cleaner flavour that is more appealing to kids. Having filtered water available in a jug in the fridge offers your kids convenience and freshness. Many filters also come with built-in dispensers, which children might find fun to use.
Build Water into Routines
It can help to build water consumption into your kids’ routines. Encourage them to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, before and after play, and alongside every meal. Create small rituals, such as filling up bottles together before school, which turn hydration into a habit rather than a chore.
Help Your Kids Stay Hydrated
Encouraging children to drink more water is simple with the right steps. Start from an early age, and you will find it much easier to help your kids stay hydrated the healthy way!