A survey conducted this year by “Spinter Research” commissioned by the country’s largest water management company “Vilniaus vandenys” showed that most residents with minor children give them tap water to drink: 60% of respondents said their children drink city water daily, and another 19% said they choose such water at least sometimes. One-tenth of respondents indicated that their children mostly drink bottled water.
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“Children often adopt the habits of their parents and other close adults, so if they themselves mostly choose water, this choice becomes more acceptable to the child,” says Skaistė Rimeikaitė, nutrition coordinator at the Vilnius Public Health Bureau “Vilnius Healthier”.
According to her, how much water a child should drink per day depends on their age, body weight, physical activity, and weather conditions. Based on the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the approximate total water requirement for young children (1–2 years) is about 1–1.3 liters per day, for preschool and younger school-age children (2–8 years) about 1.3–1.6 liters, and for older children and adolescents (9 years and older) about 1.9–2.5 liters. This amount includes not only drinking water and other beverages but also water contained in food, such as fruits, vegetables, or soups.
The World Health Organization also recommends aiming for about 30 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day.
Daily habits can be formed playfully
To encourage a child to choose water more often, it is important not only to talk about its benefits but also to form daily habits. Skaistė Rimeikaitė notes that it is first worth giving up sweetened drinks during meals – tea, juices, or carbonated drinks should not be used as a substitute for water.
“Do not make sweet drinks a daily choice because the less often they are offered at home, the easier it is to form the habit of choosing water. If plain water is not liked by the child, you can offer cooled water, a different water bottle, or flavor the water with berries, a slice of lemon or cucumber, mint, without adding sugar,” advises S. Rimeikaitė.
A personal water bottle can help the child remember to drink more often – it is important to keep it in an easily accessible and visible place, especially at school, when going outside, or during active sports.
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“Lines can be marked on the bottle showing how much water should be drunk by a certain time, and the child can be rewarded with a sticker or verbal praise for each glass drunk. It is advisable to choose a light, tight, easy-to-open and washable bottle. The most important thing is that water does not become an obligation or punishment. Create simple family habits, for example, choosing water with meals, taking a bottle when going outside, or reminding to drink after active play and sports,” adds the specialist.
Practical and sustainable choice
The survey also revealed that the largest portion of the country’s residents drink at least 3–4 glasses of water daily (26%), 19% drink 4–5 glasses, and 15% drink 1–2 glasses.
“It is very important that water is easily accessible both at home and at school, and adults set an example by showing that tap water is a natural daily choice. It is time to abandon the notion that it is inferior to bottled water – in Vilnius, we drink very high-quality water from underground wells. Moreover, modern children care not only about health but also about their environmental footprint: by choosing tap water, we avoid single-use plastic and contribute to a cleaner environment,” says Saulius Savickas, General Director of “Vilniaus vandenys”.
The company contributes to children’s habit of choosing water more often by expanding the network of public water fountains. Installed public water fountains operate not only in the city center but also in residential areas, sports and leisure spaces, and educational institution territories. Drinking water fountains have already been installed in more than 100 schools in the capital.
How to recognize thirst?
S. Rimeikaitė notes that children do not always recognize thirst and confuse it with hunger, so it is important to teach the child from an early age to pay attention to their body sensations. According to her, thirst can be indicated by dryness of the mouth and lips, less frequent urination, or darker urine color. Hunger more often manifests as a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, rumbling, and decreased energy. Parents should pay attention to these signs.
“It is important to form habits gradually and not turn water into an obligation. The goal is for the child to eventually understand the importance of water for the body and choose it as the main drink to quench thirst. It is necessary to regularly offer to drink and create conditions for water to be easily accessible throughout the day,” says the specialist.
