Clear drinking water is extremely important for human health. At its shortage in an organism various painful states can develop, in general worsen health. Therefore it is very important to develop a habit to drink more water every day in the child. But how to make it? How to accustom the child to water?
The child of a habit to drink more water within a day can have a long process of formation. Parents need to be ready to the fact that for two-three of days the situation concerning water in a diet of the child will not exchange. Moreover, gradually any ways can lose the force, it will be necessary to choose other approaches, especially if the child is very stubborn and inclined to a protest. Therefore it is important to stock up with patience.
Having begun to accustom gradually the child to the use of enough clear water, it is impossible to swear, punish the child, to put any ultimatums, to resort to threats and to use other negative impacts. On the one hand, similar educational measures can sometimes bring desired result. On the other hand, at the psychological level the risk of formation at the child of negative perception increases. It is possible to achieve that the kid will associate as a result process of drink of liquid – and already any – with something frightening, unwanted unpleasant. It is especially dangerous to work in this way if the child by nature very impressionable, vulnerable, emotional, timid, inclined to fears, with weak nervous system.
To what ways and methods it is possible to resort, trying to accustom the child to drink more water?
7 councils how to create a habit to drink water at the child
- It is important to provide to the kid access to water. So, for example, it is worth leaving a cup or a small bottle with clear drinking water in the children's room. It always has to be in full view of the child. At the same time it is not necessary to offer alternatives. If in the room near water there is a fruit juice, then probability is high that the child will choose tasty and sweet drink.
- Going to walk, it is always necessary to take drinking water. Even in case the child is more inclined to use compotes, fruit drinks, teas or other drink. Certainly, such drinks can be useful to children's health too, but they will not replace pure liquid. Falling into a stalemate on the street, the child will get used to drink outdoors the water taken with itself over time, gradually the habit will extend also to house conditions.
- For small children use of color straws and tubules can be relevant for drink. Then process of the use of usual water will become more cheerful, it will be simpler. Instead of tubules it is also possible to use special children's ware, together with the child having chosen that mug which will be responsible only for water.
- It is necessary to watch temperature of clean drink. Hot water should not be given to children. It is better if it is either the room temperature, or cold. But also it is necessary to see to individual reactions of the kid, to find out his flavoring preferences. To cool water, it is possible to throw several cubes of ice or figured ice in which there will be a vmorozhena some berry in it. Similar is also capable to make process of drink of water more cheerful.
- Absolutely small children to accustom to drink water it is necessary accurately, gradually, slowly. It is worth giving liquid from a spoon each one and a half-two hours.
- If the child prefers to drink only juice or fruit drinks, it is possible to begin to part them with water gradually. Moreover, some sweet concentrated drinks in principle demand that they were parted, but did not use in pure form. Gradually the amount of water should be increased. Such approach will allow to create a habit to drink more.
- It is not necessary to part sugar in drinking water, wishing to add it taste and by that to attract the child to drink. First it is possible to choose children's drinking water with vitamins and flavoring additives. It is important to remember that it is about qualitative drink.
How to accustom the child to drink clear water: psychological methods
Often psychological or game, ritual approaches make bigger impact on the child and quicker develop at it desire to drink water every day in enough.
- It is possible to develop a special ritual of drink of water. It is necessary to explain to the kid that the ritual is such special action which cannot be broken. At the same time it is worth connecting to this ritual of all family members. For example, it is amicably obligatory for all to drink some stipulated amount of water in the morning.
- Living example – what usually works smoothly. Children are very much leveled on the parents, elder sisters and brothers, relatives. If in family there is no habit to drink a lot of water if mom and dad choose as drinks always only coffee or tea, then to accustom the child to drink water it will be almost impossible. There is the same principle, as well as in a situation when it is necessary to teach the kid to brush teeth and to develop in it a habit to do it day by day.
- With children is more senior it is possible to lead the corresponding discussion on advantage of water. It is impossible just to confine to separate phrases. It is necessary to explain in an available form why the organism needs pure liquid that can happen if there is not enough water what leads dehydration to and so on. It is very important to talk to children, but in language, clear for them.
- In certain cases "the zhetonny system" can help. This approach forms an external stimulus / motivation for commission of any action. It is necessary to agree with the child that if he drinks a glass of water everyone a couple of hours, then he receives something in exchange. However this approach very risky because as a result can lead to manipulative actions from the child. It is necessary to apply this psychological method accurately, having well considered.
- In the quite good way how to create a habit to drink water at the child, a game acts. It is possible to organize home competitions, for example: who will use liquids within a day more. Or, being played with the kid, to arrange a useful meal with his toys where among drinks water will dominate.
- Fairy tales about water – psychological reception which will help to accustom small children to drink more pure liquid. It is possible to look for ready fairy tales or to think up independently magic legends into which it is worth interweaving the real facts about pure advantage for health.
- One more way how to force the child to drink water, – to agree with it that the kid will be responsible in family for this liquid. Control of all family members that all drank every day water will belong to duties. However at the same time and the child has to use pure liquid, kind of setting parents an example.