Hydration

Proper hydration is essential for everyone, but it’s particularly important for children, who have unique hydration needs because their bodies contain a higher proportion of water and because they lose more fluids through sweating and breathing. Failure to properly hydrate can impair cognitive function, cause mood swings, and result in serious illness if it reaches a point of severe dehydration.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children ages 4-8 should drink about 5 cups (40 ounces) of water per day, while children ages 9-13 should drink about 7-8 cups/day (56-64 ounces). These recommendations are dependent on additional factors such as activity level, climate and overall health.

Unfortunately, many children aren’t meeting these recommendations. A study by Kant et al. (2019) found that more than half of US children and adolescents ages 6-19 years old have an average daily water intake of just 15 ounces for boys and 12 ounces for girls! This falls far short of even the most minimum standards for our youngest children!

A review by Armstrong et al. (2012) found that dehydration can impair cognitive performance in children, particularly tasks that require attention, memory, and motor coordination. All tasks essential to their school experience.

Another 2019 meta-study done by Edmunds et al. found that drinking water has a positive impact on children’s cognitive performance. Across 14 different studies including over 1200 children it was observed that children who drank water performed better on cognitive tasks that tested attention, memory, and reaction time than those who did not.

The research suggests that dehydration could be a significant contributor to poor academic performance.

In addition to cognitive and physical performance, there are also important health and self confidence implications. Proper hydration is critical for every metabolic process. A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine observed that children who drank more water had a far lower risk of being overweight or obese. Children who maintain a healthy body weight and composition are more likely to have a positive body image and higher self confidence. Studies have shown that they’re also more likely to volunteer in class and engage in sports, where they can build a sense of community.

The first question we aim to address is why children aren’t drinking enough water. There are two primary reasons: