45 tips to get kids to drink more water

How do you encourage children to drink water? That is the question we asked in our recent #MrMenEvian Twitter party.

We all know how important it is for children to keep hydrated, and water is the best way to do that. With the great tips you shared, children will gain health benefits and have fun too.

The #MrMenEvian party was sponsored by Evian and Ocado, the UK’s only online supermarket, who want to get parents and kids excited about drinking more water. Parents can receive a Mr Men Sticker book, exclusive to Ocado, when purchasing 2 packs of Evian Kids water, whilst stocks last. Each pack of bottled water comes with stickers to fill the books. You can buy the water, and the sticker books at ocado.com/mrmen.

How to make water interesting with fruit

We add a slice of orange or lemon and of course ice @mummiefun

Try flavouring water e.g. cucumber @gumdropbutton89

My daughter loves to make mocktails even garnishing her water with slices of lemon , strawberry and grape @jhowze

I blend the water with fresh ripe fruit like watermelon, strawberries or melon and they drink it up @moderndadpages

I love the idea of adding berries to ice cubes! I will get the kids to make them. @Luckysammystarr

How to encourage the drinking of water throughout the day

Have a nice big glass of water with breakfast every day. It soon becomes a habit @joellebruder

Having a bottle of water nearby while playing is good as they can access it without having to stop what they’re doing @gill_81uk

My boy’s school encourages all children to bring a water bottle everyday and to hydrate through the day. @fashion_mommyWM

We pretend to have a tea party with water instead of tea and they love it! Works like magic @Sharon135153

Sitting at the table for food helps as my toddler copies me when I pause to drink! also loves pouring it from jug into his cup @vampybear

When out at restaurants we always order a jug of water for the table which the kids love!
@TiredMummyofTwo

At our house we have a rule: only water or milk after 5pm. Helps promote water drinking @gill_81uk

My two take a cup of water to bed with them @mumslittlepeeps

What works for other parents

Giving them lukewarm water rather than cold water to get them to drink more #@etspeaksfrom

Have you seen my water tracker reward chart? 😉 http://t.co/9Ac6fV8KtD @caro_mad

Amelia loves water. But then I have never offer her juice so it’s just the norm! #MrMenEvian @newyoungmum

Sports bottles work a treat with my girls #MrMenEvian @hooker1uk

Keep water in the change bag as it saves being caught out and relying on buying a drink @MsSBurns

Don’t make sweet and fizzy drinks accessible and keep chilled water in your fridge instead @caro_mad

I usually have a bottle of water in my bag when I’m out and about so my little boy thinks drinking water is grown up @fashion_mommyWM

Let them see you drinking plenty of water and lead by example @gill_81uk

Tell your kids that water is melted snow and that Christmas will only come if they drink a lot of it every day
@natalielealand

My daughter has a mini water dispenser and some plastic cups. Kids often like doing things for themselves @WelshbyBirth

Find a wilted plant to show kids how important water is to plants water is as necessary to our bodies as a plant! @thequeenosheba

Still their thirst for knowledge: Explain how their body works and what the benefits of water are. They’ll be fascinated @caro_mad

My two also drink warm water in the winter! Drinking from their favourite mug @Moolboots

Reward them for small chores or homework with a full bottle of Evian @jingle100

Health benefits of water

We had to explain about the importance of drinking water this morning to help prevent things like constipation! @goriami

I like hot water with lemon…a nice change from a coffee! And better for you! @wendymcd83

If you are trying to lose weight just have a glass of water before your meal you will find you don’t eat as much @annawarner5

My kids see people with spots and say ‘They don’t drink enough water ‘ and they’re right. They know it’s good for their skin @anyaharris01

It’s so much healthier and better to keep concentration levels up @caro_mad

I get dry eyes and headaches if I’m not. Imagine kids do same @missielizzieb

They concentrate so much better and are less cranky too when they’re hydrated @missielizzieb

Ways to make drinking water more fun

We have ice cubes shaped like Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Lego men and pirates! They love how fun they make water. @LuckySammyStarr

My kids love ice so I made some frozen water ice lollies. They didn’t even notice it was just water! @h_igoe

A really cool curly whirley straw glass is always a hit with my boys for drinking water @h_igoe

For Halloween we put natural food coloring into the girls water for some brain juice fun #MrMenEvian @hooker1uk

A special cup with glitter and a straw seems to work sometimes. @vaichin

Want to get kids drinking water at parties? Jazz up the labels! This was for a Dinosaur themed party! http://t.co/qXsZVndbaP @MetheManandBaby

Draw a face on your kids bottle to make it fun for them to drink from it @kiwi7001

Mine loves to do ‘cheers’ too and clink glasses! @missielizzieb

My kids love drinking water from their favourite clear plastic glasses with fishes on them they think it’s an aquarium @pootlpops

We also have a pretty pink water bottle for the fridge and pastel glasses to drink from @mrsdarlingx

The last word

And don’t forget that often when we think we’re hungry we just want a drink so grab that water.
@fashion_mommyWM