Active Children Need an Active Sports Drink
Most children will do fine by just drinking lots of water while participating in sporting events and probably don’t need anything extra to avoid dehydration. It’s important to remember that your child needs to stay hydrated before, during and after the particular event he is participating in. He should drink something at least every 20 minutes or so to keep his body balanced. And, the amount of fluid he needs is directly related to his body weight, age, intensity of the physical activity and weather conditions. A sports drink can also be an excellent choice for active children. They are most appropriate when your child is active for more than an hour in a strenuous sporting activity (such as soccer, hockey or long-distance running.) These drinks are composed primarily of carbohydrates which give an immediate energy boost when the body needs it most. They also contain electrolytes which are lost quite quickly through bodily sweat. Electrolytes need to be replaced quickly because they help muscles and body fluid levels to work properly.
