Practitioners in settings are very conscious of the need to promote healthy eating for children, but recent research suggests that ‘drinking and the impact of fluid intake is often the forgotten part of food and diet’ (Howells 2021).
THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION
As the benefits of hydration are often not as widely discussed as the benefits of healthy eating, here are some pointers on why adequate hydration is essential for children:
It is important, therefore, that we support and educate children about this aspect of their health, understanding how their bodies feel, and learning to understand thirst reactions; and that we also think about policies and practice about the provision of fluids. The new educational The Water Songmight help educate children about when, why and how to drink healthily (see References and resources).
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