Helping Your Child Stay Hydrated: Tips for Parents from Genesis Childcare 1989
- Joyce Ng
- Jan 15, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 2
Water is the foundation of life — and maintaining healthy hydration is just as crucial for children as it is for adults. From regulating body temperature to aiding digestion and circulation, water plays a vital role in every system of our bodies. Yet, it’s common for many parents to struggle with getting their little ones to drink enough water daily.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, one of the leading Tampines child care and Tampines preschool centers, we understand the importance of proper hydration for young children. Whether your little one is in our Tampines infant care or Tampines nursery program, we always encourage healthy drinking habits to support their growth, focus, and well-being throughout the day.
Why Hydration Matters for Children
Children naturally lose water throughout the day through breathing, sweating, and even digestion. When they don’t drink enough, their bodies can quickly become dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue, irritability, nausea, or headaches — all of which can affect their mood and ability to learn or play.
Proper hydration ensures that your child stays active, alert, and comfortable — all vital components of a happy day at preschool or childcare. That’s why it’s essential for parents to make sure their children are getting enough fluids.
According to Singapore’s Health Promotion Board (HPB), toddlers between 1 to 2 years old should drink about 1 to 3 cups (250ml each) of water daily, while preschoolers between 3 to 6 years old should have 3 to 5 cups of water a day. These small but consistent sips can make a huge difference in your child’s health.
But what if your child simply hates drinking water? You’re not alone — many parents at our Tampines preschool share this same concern. Fortunately, there are fun and creative ways to make water more appealing to children.
Let’s explore some strategies our educators at Genesis Childcare 1989 recommend to help your child build a love for drinking water.
1. Make Drinking Water Fun with Fancy Straws and
Bottles
Children are drawn to things that look fun and exciting. One simple trick is to make drinking water visually appealing! Consider buying colorful bottles or funky straws that your child can choose themselves. Whether it’s a bottle with their favorite cartoon character or a rainbow straw that swirls with every sip, a little creativity can make hydration a joyful experience.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we’ve noticed that children are more likely to drink water when they feel a sense of ownership over their bottle. Teachers at our Tampines child care center also encourage kids to keep their bottles within reach, reminding them gently to take sips throughout the day. This habit can easily be continued at home!
2. Be a Role Model — Lead by Example
Children are observant by nature. If they see you drinking water regularly, they’ll likely follow suit. That’s why one of the best ways to encourage hydration is to model the behavior yourself.
Make drinking water a family affair! You could even turn it into a fun challenge — create a hydration sticker chart at home where everyone earns a sticker for finishing their daily water goal. At the end of the week, reward your child for their consistency — perhaps a trip to the playground or their favorite story time session.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, our teachers often drink water together with the children during breaks. This shared activity reinforces the message that water is essential and helps make it part of their daily routine — something we recommend parents mirror at home too.
3. Have the “Potty Talk”
It might sound funny, but talking about pee is a surprisingly effective way to teach your child about hydration! You can explain to your little one that the color of their urine shows how much water their body needs.
A light, pale yellow color means they are well-hydrated, while dark yellow or amber means it’s time to drink more water. You can even print out a child-friendly urine color chart and let them compare it during potty time. This helps them become more aware of their body and gives them a sense of control over their hydration habits.
At our Tampines nursery classes, potty training and self-awareness are part of the daily learning experience. We guide children to observe, understand, and respond to their body’s needs — including knowing when it’s time to take a drink of water!
4. Add Natural Flavor with Fruits
If your child dislikes plain water, adding fruits is an excellent way to give it a flavorful twist. Fruits like strawberries, oranges, lemons, or watermelon not only add a delicious taste but also provide extra vitamins and hydration.
You can prepare a few frozen fruit cubes or slices and drop them into your child’s water bottle. Watching the fruits swirl and color the water can make it more exciting for them to drink.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, our Tampines preschool nutrition plan includes fresh fruits that are high in water content, such as watermelon, oranges, and cucumbers. This ensures that children not only enjoy eating but also stay hydrated through their meals.
5. Keep Water Easily Accessible
Young children are more likely to drink water if it’s readily available. Encourage your child to carry a small bottle that’s easy to hold and refill. At home, keep filled bottles or cups of water within their reach — on the dining table, near their play area, or beside their bed.
You can even teach your child how to use the water dispenser safely or refill their own cup. This sense of independence makes them feel grown-up and responsible.
At our Tampines infant care and Tampines child care programs, we make sure that water stations are easily accessible to every child. Teachers gently remind them to take water breaks after playtime, meals, and outdoor activities. This not only keeps them hydrated but also instills self-care habits that they carry into primary school and beyond.
6. Encourage Hydration Through Routine
Children thrive on structure. By building water breaks into their daily routine, you can help them remember to hydrate regularly. For example, set specific times for water — one glass after waking up, one after playtime, one before meals, and one before bedtime.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, our daily schedule at the Tampines preschool integrates hydration moments naturally throughout the day. During circle time, meal breaks, and outdoor play, our educators remind children to take sips. Over time, this becomes second nature — and children start drinking water without being told.
7. Educate Them About Why Water Matters
When children understand why something is important, they’re more likely to follow through. Use simple, child-friendly explanations:
“Water helps you run faster!”
“It keeps your skin smooth like a peach!”
“Your brain works better when it’s hydrated!”
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we include lessons on healthy living as part of our holistic curriculum. In our Tampines nursery and Tampines preschool programs, we teach children about the importance of water through storytelling, experiments, and interactive games — helping them connect learning with real-life experiences.
Helping Your Child Stay Hydrated: Building Healthy Habits That Last
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that helping your child stay hydrated is a vital part of developing healthy habits that support growth and learning. Our teachers and caregivers at the Tampines infant care, Tampines nursery, and Tampines preschool levels ensure that every child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs are met — including proper hydration.
From encouraging regular water breaks to providing nutritious meals and outdoor playtime, we focus on helping your child stay hydrated while nurturing overall wellness and confidence.
Parents can also play an active role by making small, consistent efforts — such as introducing fun water bottles, modeling good hydration habits, and keeping water easily accessible. By helping your child stay hydrated through enjoyable routines, you turn a simple daily task into a lifelong foundation for health and happiness.
A Final Word from Genesis Childcare 1989
Healthy children are happy learners. When your child is well-hydrated, they’re more focused, energized, and ready to explore the world around them. At Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that cultivating good habits early sets the foundation for a lifetime of well-being.
If you’re looking for a Tampines infant care, Tampines child care, or Tampines preschool that values holistic growth — where children learn, play, and thrive in a caring environment — Genesis Childcare 1989 is the perfect place to start.
Let’s work together to nurture not only bright minds but also healthy, happy bodies — one sip of water at a time.
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Genesis Tampines Childcare 1989 is one of the best preschool and childcare in Tampines. Our Preschool Tampines have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. At our Tampines Childcare, we advocate that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished.
As a leading early childhood center in Singapore since 1989, we are committed to nurturing our early learners holistically through various learning areas and positive learning dispositions. We place a strong emphasis on the way our teachers facilitate and interact with the children.
Our Childcare Tampines believe that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished. Hence, our holistic curriculum aims to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every one of them!
Our Playgroup Tampines provides parents with the confidence that their children are in the good hands of our trained and caring teachers.
Our professional team of preschool teachers has a good understanding of child development and learning principles. We apply them efficiently and set the stage to create a meaningful learning experience that supports your child's discovery.
We consistently create a positive and cozy environment that will give your child a sense of security which builds their self-confidence to explore the world around them.
If you are looking for a good Tampines infant care or Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare near Tampines Central, do consider Nurture Infant House or Genesis Childcare 1989.
Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.
Lastly, would you like to visit our Genesis Childcare 1989 to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)
Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141
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