Water inevitable for children

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Long-term chronic dehydration may cause health problems and illnesses. Water not only keeps children healthy, but also will help them perform better in school.

Many schools have inadequate water resources, parents and teachers should encourage children to drink water at home and even bring their own to school. Children should drink water after taking part in sports, such as in gym class. Not drinking water can lead to poor concentration in the classroom. Although children are smaller than adults they need to consume more water. In fact, the smaller they are, the more they need to drink.

A boy between the ages of 11 and 14 should drink 3 liters of water per day, and a girl of the same age needs 2.8 liters per day. A recent survey revealed that 65% of school aged children between the ages of five and 14 drink less water than they should.

Once the body is dehydrated, the internal temperature rises and the body, particularly the brain, overheats. A loss of 2% of body fluids causes a 20% reduction in performance in both physical and mental activities. Dehydration in excess of 3% may lead to heat stroke, a condition to which children are much more prone than adults are. Children should therefore be encouraged to drink water even if they are not thirsty.