Here, summer is more than just a warm season—it’s a fierce battle against extreme heat, with temperatures often soaring above 40°C and 90% humidity levels. This intense heat affects children more intensely than grownups as they are less able to regulate their body temperatures and cool themselves down. Furthermore, children are so absorbed in their fun that they may not notice or communicate feelings of discomfort, making it essential for parents to be vigilant about their well-being.
Why kids feel the heat more intensely
Children are particularly sensitive to heat. Their bodies are still growing, which means they have more skin relative to their body mass. This makes them absorb heat faster. Kids also sweat less than adults, which is how the body cools itself and regulates its temperature. So, they can quickly get too hot, leading to dehydration or even heatstroke. Additionally, young children may not fully understand their bodies' signals of discomfort or lack the words to express what they're feeling, making it even more crucial for caregivers to monitor them closely and ensure they stay cool and hydrated.
Critical Times to Watch Out
Ensuring children drink enough fluids is crucial, not just when they’re visibly sweating after a game or when they are done with their play but before they even step outside. Whether they’re playing in the yard, swimming in the pool, participating in a sport game, or out on a family road trip, kids need constant reminders to drink up - life is too fun for them to remember to stop and do so on their own.
Air-conditioned environments compound the problem
It's easy to overlook how cooled environments affect hydration. Air-conditioned spaces like homes, schools, malls, cars and planes keep us comfortable but also reduce humidity levels, which can accelerate the dehydration process. The cooler, dry air in these environments can cause moisture to evaporate from the body more quickly than in the hot air outside. This makes it particularly important for parents to ensure that children are hydrating regularly, even if they don't feel hot or sweaty, as signs of dehydration may be less noticeable in these comfortably cool settings.
Water Alone Won’t Cut It
While water is essential, it’s often not enough to keep hydration levels where they need to be. That’s where electrolytes come in. These minerals—like sodium and potassium—help the body hold onto water and keep the muscles working properly. Without them, even well-intentioned drinking can fall short, especially in extreme heat, exercise and high levels of activity (you know - the baseline of kids) Drinking fluids is the most effective way to refresh, however, hydration can also include fluid-rich foods. Incorporating items like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges into kids' diets can be an effective and tasty way to boost hydration levels, providing both fluids and essential nutrients. On top of that, adopting heat-countering habits such as wearing heat reflecting colors and materials, seeking out shade and cooling off in water can also help ensure your kids are safe.
Prioritizing Safety in Consumption
Choosing supplements for yourself or your children requires ensuring they are both effective and safe. At oneshot, we prioritize high-quality and safe levels for consumption for both adults and children.
Quality: Hydrate is based of natural ingredients free from added sugar, artificial flavoring, and preservatives. Our formula provides essential electrolytes without the added sugar, artificial coloring, or allergens commonly found in other products.
Quantity: Each serving of Hydrate contains ingredient amounts that are below the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for children and adults, both in the GCC region and globally. This ensures that neither you nor your loved ones will consume excessive amounts of any vitamin or mineral. We reference multiple authoritative sources to ensure safety, including the NIH's Dietary Reference Intakes and the FAO's Recommended Nutrient Intakes for various age groups, including children, in Oman.
Making Hydration Fun and Tasty
It’s not always easy getting kids to hydrate, but a splash of flavor can make all the difference. Sugar-free electrolytes like oneshot can help make hydration feel like a treat and replace sugary drinks that kids might have the habit of reaching for instead. Whether you are serving them up in a cup loaded with ice cubes, a slush or as an exciting homemade hydration popsicle, oneshot’s passion bliss, lime burst and rumman twist flavors are kid-approved and will have your kids asking for refills and excited about hydration. Other ways to get kids excited about and involved in their hydration is to add some fun into the process - creating funky ice cubes by adding raspberries, blueberries, kiwi slices or lime slices into ice trays and freezing them can get kids excited about pouring a glass of water/electrolytes.
Stay safe out there
With summer’s high temperatures, the goal is simple—keep our children hydrated and healthy. By understanding the risks, encouraging regular fluid intake, and adding a pinch of fun with flavors, we can help our children enjoy every moment of their summer, safely and joyfully. And if you’re looking for more tips on how to keep them safe in the sun, we’ve got you covered.
