Want focused children at school? This is the simple change you must make at home
A new scientific review reveals that a vast majority of children suffer from "hypohydration" which impairs memory, attention, and mood. A recent study found: a child's chance of being dehydrated increases by 1.54 times if their parents do not drink enough.
A new scientific review, based on a study published in the journal Nutrients and other recent research, reveals alarming data ahead of the new school year that directly impacts children's learning abilities: between 75% and 85% of children and adolescents in certain populations do not consume enough fluids.
This condition, known as "hypohydration," has a significant impact on children's daily functioning, as water is essential for the nervous system and oxygen transport to cells. The review confirms the link between insufficient hydration and the impairment of critical cognitive skills. Even mild dehydration (a loss of 1%–2% of body weight) can negatively affect the following indicators:
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Attention and concentration: drinking 300 ml of water improves memory and sustained attention in children.
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Mood and well-being: a lack of fluids increases fatigue and impairs decision-making ability.
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Reaction time: drinking water can improve performance on visual attention tasks within just 20 minutes.
The role model: it all starts at home
A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that children's drinking habits are a direct reflection of their parents. The study, conducted among hundreds of parent-child pairs, found that children of parents who are in a state of hypohydration are at a 1.54 times higher risk of suffering from it themselves. The message to parents is unequivocal: a personal example, such as a parent drinking water with a meal, conveys a stronger message than any lecture.
Hadas Yariv, a science and nutrition consultant for the Wissotzky company, emphasizes that to build a healthy habit, water must be made accessible and attractive. According to her, when children find it difficult to drink plain water, the taste can be varied using herbal infusions without added sugar or sweeteners.
"It is recommended to use products adapted for preparation in cold water (such as COLD BREEZE) or hot infusions to expand the variety of unsweetened options. It is important to ensure that the infusions are age-appropriate and to avoid adding sugar or honey to accustom children to non-sweet tastes," notes Yariv.
