If sports drinks are offered, you may dilute them by 50 percent with water. Drinks containing caffeine can cause the body to lose fluids and may not be considered thirst quenchers. Drinks with sugar are not as thirst quenching as water, and they can interfere with a child's appetite for nutritious foods at meal or snack time. Juice may be diluted with water, club soda or crushed ice to reduce the sugar and add fluid. Some children do not like to drink water or may not want to stop playing their games to take a water break.
Creativity can help change their minds.
Make sure the containers are easy to clean and sanitize. Use the water breaks to remind children that drinking from the same cups or containers can spread germs. Disposable cups may be an alternative when children are away from washing facilities. Reuse cups by including names or pictures on cups so children can recognize their own to reuse. Show children where to put their cups so the cups do not touch each other and spread germs.