How can parents encourage children to drink enough water in the heat?

Getting children to drink plain water is genuinely difficult, and that's okay to acknowledge. Adding a small amount of squash to make the drink more appealing is a practical solution — some fluid intake is far better than none. Offering fruit with a naturally high water content, such as watermelon, melon, and cucumber, is another effective strategy. Keeping cold water ready in the fridge and modelling good drinking habits at family mealtimes also makes a real difference.

In the episode of The Toddle About Show dedicated to surviving a heatwave, Bill Clapson and Emily Clapson are candid about the reality of parenting through extreme heat — and hydration sits at the heart of it. The advice is refreshingly pragmatic: don't hold out for the perfect outcome. If squash gets the drink down, use it. The goal is keeping children hydrated, not keeping the drink pristine.

The episode was recorded during a summer in which the hosts had already experienced four heatwaves before August — a context that makes these tips feel earned rather than theoretical. If you want to hear the full conversation, including how the family manages sleep, outdoor time, and temperature checks, the episode is available on Listenly.