Humans can survive for as long as eight weeks without food. But without water we will die within three days.
Despite the necessity of water for our body's functioning we often do not drink enough. By the time we start to feel thirsty we are already suffering from dehydration, which can impact on mental performance including memory, attention and concentration (see box).
It is important to encourage even very young children to drink water at regular intervals so they develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. For this reason Oakwood School, near Chichester, West Sussex, has installed water stations throughout the nursery, classrooms and even outdoors.
Water for Work and Home, a natural water supplier, provided Oakwood with 13 water stations - outdoor fountains, plumbed-in units and water coolers - at the start of the spring term. Now the children are never more than ten metres away from a water supply.
Headmaster Johnnie Kittermaster says, 'There are children at Oakwood from two and a half to 11 years old. From nursery upwards, water drinking has become part of the school routine.'
The early years children have cups that they can fill from the water coolers, while the older school children have personal water bottles which they are responsible for refilling and cleaning.
Staff concerns
Some staff were concerned at first about possible disruption caused by children having open access to drinking water. They worried that they might be constantly dealing with spillages, that children would keep needing to run to the toilets and that it would provide a general distraction. These worries have proved unfounded and the results have been impressive.
At first, the school classes had regular water breaks and reminders, but these are no longer necessary because children now take responsibility for their own hydration.
Staff have noted that children seem more alert and responsive. They are ready to learn and show improved concentration and overall more energy.
Vanessa Williams, head of Oakwood nursery, says, 'The children in the nursery have embraced the introduction of the water to the classroom. There have also been some hidden benefits. Each child has their own named cup, which in turn has helped their early literacy skills. The children are allowed to help themselves to water throughout the day, which promotes independence. We also have daily water charts on the wall the children complete. This assists with their numeracy skills.
'The high visibility of the cooler in the classroom and the play value of it have certainly been instrumental in promoting the daily intake of water.'
In the garden
Mr Kittermaster believes the whole school now understands the importance of regularly drinking water. He says the children enjoy the new water regime so much that they haven't even missed the squash that was previously added to their drinks. Children are choosing to drink increasingly more fresh water instead of sugary concoctions such as cordial and fizzy drinks. This is benefiting their general health, especially their teeth.
The message of how vital water is for all forms of life has been included in the curriculum throughout the school. This is particularly apparent in Mr McGregor's Garden (named after the character in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit), the school garden where the children tend - and regularly water - their own vegetables.
HYDRATION FACTS
- Dehydration is suffered when our bodies do not have enough water to function properly.
- Water makes up 55-75 per cent of our body weight and 80 per cent of the brain.
- Water is vital to the body's functioning - it regulates body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells, removes waste, cushions joints and protects organs and tissues. It is also essential for neurological transmissions.
- Long-term health problems caused by dehydration can include constipation, continence problems, kidney and urinary tract infections and some cancers.
- Children should drink around six to eight glasses of water a day (1.2 to 2 litres).
- Poor hydration can make children thirsty, irritable, tired and less able to concentrate.
- Initially a child will need the toilet more frequently when they start drinking more, but once the bladder capacity has improved they will go less frequently.