Somehow, getting a child to drink water ranks just below “get them to wear pants 👖” and “convince them broccoli isn’t poison 🥦” on the parenting difficulty scale.
They’re not trying to be difficult (okay, sometimes they are)—it’s just that water isn’t always exciting. And when you’re a kid with access to apple juice, chocolate milk, or whatever colorful mystery drink shows up at birthday parties, plain old water feels like homework.
But here’s the secret nobody tells you: hydration is a behavior, not just a beverage. It’s like brushing teeth or saying please—kids don’t just pick it up because we tell them to. They learn by watching what we do, by making it part of their routine, and by having a little fun with it along the way.
So if you’re constantly refilling a barely-touched water bottle or watching your toddler act possessed by a thirst demon at 3 p.m., here’s a more realistic way to think about it.
Think Ritual, Not Rules
Telling your kid to “drink more water” doesn’t mean much. But connecting it to something they already do—after brushing their teeth 🪥, during snack time 🍎, after recess 🛝—makes it easier. It becomes part of the rhythm, not a random command.
Even better? Let them choose their own water bottle. Or make up a silly name for what’s in it. Jungle juice 🐒, dragon elixir 🐉, ninja fuel 🥷. You’re not above it.
You’re not bribing them. You’re just rebranding.
Flavor Fatigue Is Real
Kids get bored fast. New flavors keep things interesting, and letting them mix it up makes them feel like they’re in charge (even when you totally are). If your kid hates water, it doesn’t mean they’re doomed to a life of dehydration. It might just mean they need something with a little more personality.
That’s where flavored hydration can help—but the kind that isn’t full of sugar, dyes, or stuff you can’t pronounce. If you find something clean and tasty that makes them want to drink more? That’s a win. (And if you end up sneaking some for yourself, that’s between you and the pantry.)
Monkey See, Monkey Sip
The number of times a child will ignore their own drink and go straight for yours: infinite. It’s science. 😂
So the easiest parenting hack? Model the behavior. Kids copy everything—especially the stuff you didn’t mean to teach them. So if they see you sipping, there’s a good chance they’ll want in. Keep your own drink nearby. Sip it often. Look satisfied. Say nothing. Eventually, they’ll want it—if only to spite you.
It’s hydration by stealth.
Helping your kid stay hydrated doesn’t have to mean nagging them 12 times a day. Find what works—whether it’s a cool cup, a silly name, or just making sure their drink looks more fun than their sibling’s.
Eventually, hydration becomes one of those things that just happens. Like brushing teeth. Or putting on pants 👖
Because sometimes, keeping your kid hydrated feels harder than getting them into shoes. 🥴
Category: Lifestyle & Family, Hydration 101
How to Trick Your Gremlin 👶 Into Drinking Water (No Bribes Required)
Somehow, getting a child to drink water ranks just below “get them to wear pants 👖” and “convince them broccoli isn’t poison 🥦” on the parenting difficulty scale.
They’re not trying to be difficult (okay, sometimes they are)—it’s just that water isn’t always exciting. And when you’re a kid with access to apple juice, chocolate milk, or whatever colorful mystery drink shows up at birthday parties, plain old water feels like homework.
But here’s the secret nobody tells you: hydration is a behavior, not just a beverage. It’s like brushing teeth or saying please—kids don’t just pick it up because we tell them to. They learn by watching what we do, by making it part of their routine, and by having a little fun with it along the way.
So if you’re constantly refilling a barely-touched water bottle or watching your toddler act possessed by a thirst demon at 3 p.m., here’s a more realistic way to think about it.
Think Ritual, Not Rules
Telling your kid to “drink more water” doesn’t mean much. But connecting it to something they already do—after brushing their teeth 🪥, during snack time 🍎, after recess 🛝—makes it easier. It becomes part of the rhythm, not a random command.
Even better? Let them choose their own water bottle. Or make up a silly name for what’s in it. Jungle juice 🐒, dragon elixir 🐉, ninja fuel 🥷. You’re not above it.
You’re not bribing them. You’re just rebranding.
Flavor Fatigue Is Real
Kids get bored fast. New flavors keep things interesting, and letting them mix it up makes them feel like they’re in charge (even when you totally are). If your kid hates water, it doesn’t mean they’re doomed to a life of dehydration. It might just mean they need something with a little more personality.
That’s where flavored hydration can help—but the kind that isn’t full of sugar, dyes, or stuff you can’t pronounce. If you find something clean and tasty that makes them want to drink more? That’s a win. (And if you end up sneaking some for yourself, that’s between you and the pantry.)
Monkey See, Monkey Sip
The number of times a child will ignore their own drink and go straight for yours: infinite. It’s science. 😂
So the easiest parenting hack? Model the behavior. Kids copy everything—especially the stuff you didn’t mean to teach them. So if they see you sipping, there’s a good chance they’ll want in. Keep your own drink nearby. Sip it often. Look satisfied. Say nothing. Eventually, they’ll want it—if only to spite you.
It’s hydration by stealth.
Helping your kid stay hydrated doesn’t have to mean nagging them 12 times a day. Find what works—whether it’s a cool cup, a silly name, or just making sure their drink looks more fun than their sibling’s.
Eventually, hydration becomes one of those things that just happens. Like brushing teeth. Or putting on pants 👖
Because sometimes, keeping your kid hydrated feels harder than getting them into shoes. 🥴
Category: Lifestyle & Family, Hydration 101