Starting at the turn of this century people have developed a fascination to have the best or should I say the most trending water bottle. Are we actually looking for the best one? I mean can you really have the best water bottle? Don’t they basically do the same thing? They hold water and allow you to drink out of them. Some may actually be better than others. Some will keep your drink colder longer. Some are leak and spill proof. But can we continue to develop a better water bottle every 6 months?
For kids, what makes one water bottle more appealing than the other usually has nothing to do with function. Kids prefer one water bottle over another based on two factors: Looks and trends. Younger kids will like one over the other because of how the water bottle looks. They may like a certain cartoon character or superhero that is on their cup. As kids get older they may like a certain sports team or television character on their cup. They find things they connect with.
Older kids are going to prefer one water bottle over another based on what is trending. Function may have some sway in their decision but most middle and high schoolers want what is popular. This is why every year there seems to be a different cup that is “the best”. I think back to 2000 when Nalgene had the first water bottle that I remember being popular. Since then we have run through Camelback, S’well, Tervis, Orca, Hydro Flask, Yeti, and Stanley. Now Hydro Jug and Owala seem to be trending . I am sure there are a few that have been forgotten with time.
Can one water bottle actually be the ultimate beverage dispenser? Can any one of these actually improve your child’s fitness? Could a $25-$50 water bottle actually be worth it? I would answer yes to each of these questions and here is why.
With childhood fitness one of the most important things you can do is to get your children to drink more water. Active kids need good hydration. Also drinking water can be a good substitute for higher calorie drinks that may contain added sugar. So drinking water will definitely help children that have problems with body composition. So if simply buying a water bottle that your child likes or even loves you will increase their water intake.
So when you are asked by your child to spend $25-$50 on a water bottle because they have to have it, just remember…you are making them happy and helping to improve their fitness.
