• Make sure your children drink adequate amounts of water.Pouring water on a glass - isolated image by rgbspace from Fotolia.com
  
  

Recommended Amounts

• According to the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children, the amount of water a child needs is determined by age and gender. All children 1 to 3 years of age need 4 cups daily. All children 4 to 8 years need 5 cups daily. Girls 9 to 13 years need 7 cups, while boys of this age need 8 cups. Girls 14 to 18 years need 8 cups, while boys of this age need 11 cups.
  
  

Different Needs

• These numbers are simply guidelines. Different children with different levels of activity will not need the same amount of water. Climate and your child's health also affect how much water is needed.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Watch your children for signs of dehydration, which include dry or sticky mouth, flushed skin, headache, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, few or no tears when crying, bed-wetting, constipation, lack of urine for 6 to 8 hours in an infant or for 12 hours in an older child, or very dark urine. Encourage your child to drink more water when the weather is hot, or when playing hard or exercising.