Lucky for me, my kids don’t mind drinking water. Actually, sometimes they do mind, but they know that their choices are usually water or… water. 
One trick I’ve learned to stop the “Water, again?” whining is to bypass the cheap plastic cups they’re used to and serve it up in a cute little glass. A real glass.
Yes, even for the two-year-old.
Plain ol’ water becomes “Can I have some more, please?” They’re happy. I’m happy. A water win-win works for me!
Do your children drink enough water? What tricks do you use to get them to drink more?
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Since water is the only option in our house, then when the kids are thirsty that’s what they drink!
I also use kid-sized glass drinking glasses. We got ours at IKEA. The glasses aren’t such a novelty anymore, but it’s nice to be able to stay away from plastic.
My 11yo likes her water very, very cold. She is very fond of getting a large water from Sonic full of ice. It lasts quite a while and the ice lasts even longer for refills at home.
Sonic ice is the best!
It sounds like a couple of potential broken glasses is worth it to teach your kids a healthy habit:-)
What do you do to motivate your husband to drink water?? Mine drinks juice (and a little water). I’m worried that our future kids will end up drinking juice… bleh.
Me? I drink 2-3 liters of water per day. Usually closer to 3. 
Well… I don’t.
BUT — he does it all on his own. Has a HUGE cup that he fills every morning. Drinks it full of water before he does anything else, then drinks another one before he leaves. I got lucky.
I put water for them in my glass. They always want what I have, so they’ll drink up my water way faster than they would water in their own glasses.
Water is the number one drink of choice in our home! It was all I drank as a kid, and I am so thankful my mother never introduced me to soda.
Water is the only choice at our house too for everyone 2 years old and older. I take the opposite approach though and use sports bottles so that they can carry it with them throughout the day and sip on it.
I love water, always have! I prefer it over anything, especially when I eat sweet stuff. My kids like it also, but lately to save money, we are having it with some of our meals also. I simply do not give them a choice, like you said, it is water, or . . . water!
Yes! Sweet treats + sweet drink = YUCK.
I wish mine would drink more water.
My girls rarely complain about drinking water because, other than a glass of milk at breakfast, it’s all that they’re offered. Once every couple of months or so I may buy some juice, but even then, I use it at snack time, not with meals. I guess it helps that I’m a big water drinker myself! We do sometimes let them order soft drinks when we eat out, but I’m hoping that the water habit will stick with them for life!
Learning by example… and your girls have a fantastic example to look to.
It’s funny that you give your children real glasses. I give mine little dixie cups. They can help themselves to a cup and a drink from the water dispenser in the refrigerator anytime they like. They enjoy the independence. Water is the only choice in my house.
My 6yo can get her own drink, but the others aren’t quite tall enough to reach the sink. A refrigerator water dispenser would be so nice to develop that independence!
Not my idea, but my 2 year old daughter recently attended a bridesmaid’s brunch since she was a flower girl. One of the hostesses had set up a tea party for the little girls, which included a metal tea set for each to take home. My girl will drain her little teapot anytime it has water in it and has been much more hydrated since the event!
In principle, any fun option works better than plain old cups. She also tends to drink more if she has a straw and a piece of ice.
Our 4-year-old drinks plenty of water–if we let her get it herself from the fridge’s in-door dispenser. It’s a little messy sometimes, but I’d rather wipe up a small spill and let her learn independence and healthy drinking habits.
Having a cold water cooler/dispenser in the kitchen has made water the drink of choice. My kids each can serve themselves a cup of cold water – they come from outside playing and grab a cup for some refreshing water. I love it that they drink so much water. I usually only allow them to drink juice with their evening meal.
My mom always kept a 2-3 gallon cooler with a little spigot at the bottom sitting on the dryer, full of water and a big chunk of ice, with a cup beside it. That’s how we learned to drink water. I use a 48-oz. cup with a straw, and my nieces and nephews Always want to drink from it when they visit. I drink more with a straw, and so do they. My sister-in-law keeps water bottles or sippie cups in the fridge so even the toddler can get his own drink.
The big water cooler is a great idea! Funny how kids love to drink out of ADULT cups, huh?!
My daughter is a pretty good drinker of water on her own, but I do have a trick that we came up with that works GREAT for getting her to drink her own drink and not try and steal ours. We taught her to do “Cheers.” Whenever she won’t drink her drink or wants to drink our drink instead of her own, we tell her to do “cheers.” She grabs her glass, clinks it against ours, and says cheers. Then she will happily take a big swig of her own drink. My MIL taught her to follow it with a big “ahhhh.” Not only is it beyond cute, it’s really effective. lol! It always cracks up the waiters when we are dining out.
Oh my goodness, this comment brings back memories. My hubby taught our oldest the “ahhhh” after a big drink. So cute!
Yes, my kids drink water. My husband is the only one that drinks Pop. So it is rare occasion if we have it. I usually drink water with all my meals and snacks. If the kids have juice is 1/4 juice and 3/4 water or 1/2 and 1/2. They seem to enjoy water and never complain. I think I got lucky in this department.
I have great water drinkers too and, to be honest, I think part of the reason for it is that I’m (gasp!) not afraid to let them get a little thirsty. I don’t feel the need to let them haul a bottle or sippy around all day long. They’re more than ready to drink the water I give them and they both stay well-hydrated as a result! (I’m a pretty good water drinker myself, though I also drink copious amounts of decaf black coffee. They’re not particularly interested in that stuff.
)
We pretty much don’t do sippies. Especially now that there aren’t any really small people in my house.
The 2 year olds handle glasses just fine, and it’s good for them to learn those skills.
My kids love water with lots, lots of ice and fun straws. They will both ask for water, even at a restaraunt or a party. However We do offer milk with breakfast and diluted juice if they have a cold or runny nose, just for extra vitamin C.
Yes, fun straws are a great incentive, too!
My son’s ONLY preferred water from the day I introduced it to him. He was EBF until 20 months, but around 12 months, he started wanting a cup.
I just keep sippies in the fridge for him, and at night time when both Daddy and I are around, he gets his Gettysburg College cup. It’s plastic, but he loves to tell us, “G! G!!” (there’s a G on the side).
I never bought into the logic that kids “NEEDED juice” or even cow’s milk. Water’s what he needs to live, poop well (really, it helps prevent constipation as previously mentioned), have great teeth, etc.
Oh…and it’s free!
Yes, anything other than water is not necessary and is definitely a treat at our house. Love the college cup idea. Anything that’s “fun” works for me!
My kids are hit and miss with water. Cute little sports bottles help and so do fancy straws with ice. There are times they just dont want it, though. We’ve had many a ‘dry dinner’ so to speak because they want something else. We do allow milk and juice, but at ages 4 and 6 there’s no need for pop!
Ice works well with my oldest, too. She likes her water cold.
My youngest (2) will drink water most the time but my eldest two (11 and 9) refuse to. They will literally not drink anything if the only choice I give them is water. I don’t buy fizzy pop though, they have diluted sugar free squash and the occasional tea (couple a week) which is better than pop although would love it if they would drink water. Not only is it better for them, its cheaper! I’ve just started a water fast so am hoping them seeing me drinking it all will encourage them to…can only hope.
Hmmm, I wish I knew what to tell you. My oldest is 6, so I don’t have experience with motivating tweens… yet!