Ballarat Clarendon College conducted a test last month by banning the use of water bottles in class for children from classes 5 to 9. According to the school, initial feedback indicates that doing so reduced noise during class and reduced children taking ‘breaks’ to go to the toilet. Water bottles are now considered a school essential, but the question is how much water do children need to drink in a day? What effect does it have on their brain? How much liquid food material do children and teenagers need?
How much liquid material children need depends on the weather and physical activities but in general children aged 4 to 8 years should drink about 1.2 liters of water daily. Boys aged 9 to 13 years should drink 1.6 liters of water and girls of the same age should drink 1.4 liters of water. Boys aged 14 years and above should drink 1.9 liters of water and girls of the same age should drink 1.6 liters of water. According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, it is better to drink plain water but if your child does not like to drink water, you can add a few drops of juice to it.
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Research has revealed that many school children do not drink enough water. A 2017 study involving 6,469 children aged four to 17 years from 13 countries, excluding Australia, found that 60 percent of children and 75 percent of adolescents do not consume enough liquid materials.
How often should we drink water?
There is no specific advice on how often children and adolescents should drink water, but the main message from research is that children should drink water as soon as they wake up in the morning. Drinking water first thing in the morning helps the body and brain use water properly, which helps our brain function better throughout the day.
Why is water so important for our brain?
About 75 percent of the total mass of the brain is water and our brain needs water to keep working. Water helps brain cells and tissues in balancing hormone levels, maintaining proper blood flow and delivering vitamins, minerals and oxygen to the brain. Therefore, if children are given adequate water, it increases their concentration.
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How is water helpful in studies?
A 2020 study on 5 and 6-year-old children in Germany showed that children who drank at least 50% of their daily water requirement, or about one liter, in a 4-hour period in the morning had better overall brain function.
Include water in your child’s daily routine
Drinking water at regular times can also help establish a regular routine for children and young people. Routines are an important way to manage attention, emotions and behaviour. Water ‘breaks’ don’t have to be during class, especially if the school feels this disrupts learning. It may be helpful to drink water when children wake up, at mealtimes, when they arrive at school, at the start or end of classes and when they get home.