Is Your Child Drinking Enough Water?
By Ashley Stewart-Carnett, Fit Kids Director
What do kids and all living things have in common? They both need water to survive. People can’t go for more than a few days without water. Did you know that water makes up more than half of your body weight? Water plays a big role in helping keep our bodies healthy and functioning properly.
We all know how hot it can get in Texas and water is important in the body’s cooling system. As our bodies heat up, either due to a hot day or physical activity, the sweat glands begin to produce sweat. If you are dehydrated, the body won’t be able to produce the sweat to cool you off.
Water also plays an essential role in both the immune system and digestive system. Water is in lymph, which is a fluid that is part of the immune system, which helps fight off illnesses. The digestive system needs water to help get rid of waste, urine and poop. This will help prevent conditions like urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Adults are told to drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day, but how much should your child be drinking? Check out the table below to find out! Notice, the age of the child is the number of 8oz glasses of water they should be having a day. This does not include milk, juices, or other beverages.
