Thirst is a bodily sensation that many neurodivergent children struggle to recognize due to sensory processing differences – an issue especially in the warm summer months.
Children who have trouble with the interoceptive sense may feel internal discomfort but will struggle to register that it’s due to thirst or dehydration.Help your child stay hydrated and healthy this summer (and year-round) with these strategies.Develop a fluid-intake routine to train your child to better tune in to their senses.Challenge your child to drink a minimum of eight cups of fluids — even better if it’s mostly water — spaced out every few hours throughout the day (e.g., after waking up, mid-morning, before lunch, mid-afternoon, and before dinner).
Your child may need more fluids depending on activity level and the weather. Fluids can be paired with snacks and meals.Monitor your child’s fluid intake — including time, amount, and types of fluids (water, juice, milk, etc.) they drink.
Maintaining a log can help ensure they’re sticking to the routine and help you spot any unhealthy drinking patterns, like not drinking enough in one sitting, going for long hours without fluid intake, or hydrating too close to bedtime, which can disrupt sleep.