Establishing healthy habits early in life can have a deep impact on a child’s overall well-being.
As moms, we’re always trying to make sure that our children have the best day possible. One simple yet powerful habit that can benefit your child is drinking water first thing in the morning. This is a habit that I work on with my clients and I decided to adapt it for my children. Starting this routine can set a positive tone for the day ahead, providing lots of benefits for their health and development.
This one habit will improve your child’s focus and mental performance
Starting the day with a glass of water can significantly improve your child’s focus and mental performance. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and difficulty concentrating, which can negatively impact their ability to learn and perform well academically. By ensuring that your children are properly hydrated from the start of the day, you can help them stay alert and focused throughout the rest of the day.
The most impactful benefit for your child and how we accomplish this in our household
One of the most impactful benefits of drinking water in the morning is hydration. Think about it, after a night’s sleep, the body is craving water. In our household, we make it a point to keep a water bottle available on each child’s bedside table, so they can drink it as soon as they wake up. By making sure that they have water handy, they are more likely to drink water and hydrate their body. This simple act helps them start the day feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes their way.
How this habit impacts your child’s brain
Proper hydration is essential for optimal brain function. Drinking water in the morning can help improve concentration and alertness, which are all vital for your child’s learning and development. By making sure they are well-hydrated, you can help them perform at their best academically and mentally. It’s as I always say, food is fuel for your body just like water is fuel for your brain.
The impact on your digestive system
Drinking water in the morning can kickstart your child’s digestive system which can help them have regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. When we eat, our food goes down the large intestine. If you are not properly hydrated, your intestines will take the water content from the food that you’re eating which will cause the rest of the food to become dry and hard. This is what causes pain and discomfort. Your body needs liquids to breakdown your food and help with nutrient absorption, promoting a healthy gut.
Creation of a routine that will benefit your children in the long term
Establishing a routine of drinking water in the morning can benefit your child in the long term. I always mention that healthy habits empower every generation to thrive. This can be applied to the habit of drinking water because they can develop the habit of staying hydrated throughout the day, which is so important for their overall health and well-being. Reading stories like Potter the Otter: A Tale about Water makes water drinking fun as your children follow Potter along his magical adventures. After reading this story, it would be a great time to speak with your children about the importance of drinking water vs other beverages.
How does your child’s day get impacted?
Starting the day with a glass of water can positively impact your child’s day in many ways. It can help them feel more energized and alert. If we want them to have the best day possible, we need to give them the tools in order to make that happen. Having lukewarm water in the morning will improve their mood and their focus, leading to a more positive and productive day overall.
How do you apply this for your family?
To apply this habit for your family, start by making sure everyone has easy access to water first thing in the morning. You can keep a jug of water on the kitchen counter or have individual water bottles ready to grab and go. Then, you can encourage your children to drink water as soon as they wake up, and make it a part of their morning routine. In our household, we drink water right after brushing our teeth. Then, if they go on electronics to play educational games or watch an educational show, they must drink water before that.
As for how much water to drink, you can take half of their body weight in ounces. For example, if they weigh 100lbs, they can drink 50 ounces of water a day.
Obviously, you can also lead by example and drink water yourself to reinforce the importance of staying hydrated. Children do as they see us do, not necessarily what we tell them to do.
My daughter tends to come up with all of the excuses possible to not go to sleep. And peeing is one of them. So, make sure that you limit the water consumption towards the end of the night or your lil one will use it as an excuse as well.
How do I track our progress?
Tracking your family’s progress with this habit can be as simple as keeping a log of how much water everyone drinks in the morning. You can use a journal or a tracking app to record each person’s intake. You can also use a FREE personalized tracker that is available to download here. Where you will be able to put your child’s name and then they can color in the water drops or put a sticker in the appropriate box to show that they had water.
Tracking progress can help you stay motivated and see the positive impact this habit has on your family’s health and well-being.
Drinking water, first thing in the morning, can provide lots of benefits for your child’s health and well-being. From improved focus and mental performance to better digestive health and mood. This simple habit can set the stage for a healthy and successful day. By incorporating this routine into your family’s morning, you can help your children start their day off right and establish a lifelong habit of staying hydrated and healthy.
If you have a child that doesn’t necessarily like drinking water and you want to find some fun ways to increase their water intake, you can click on this post to find 7 ways to drink more water.
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Check out the entire video to find out how your children can thrive throughout the day and the discussions that you can have afterwards.
The topics covered in this video are:
0:26 This one habit will improve your child’s focus and cognitive performance
0:50 The most impactful benefit for your child and how we accomplish this in our household
1:52 How this habit impacts your child’s brain
2:10 The impact on your digestive system
3:03 Creation of a routine that will benefit your children in the long term
4:10 How does your child’s day get impacted?
4:56 How do you apply this for your family?
6:45 How do I track our progress?
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Links mentioned in this video:
- Water tracker
- Amazon link to Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water
- A 4-d Water Intake Intervention Increases Hydration and Cognitive Flexibility among Preadolescent Children
- Water helps kids focus, improves ability to multitask: study
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