Water for Learning Workshop Summary of the Evidence

Water in the Human Body water is essential – human body is about 65% water helps lubricate joints, protects your spine regulates body temperature carry nutrients and oxygen as part of blood helps your body get rid of waste energizes muscles reduces headaches maintains balance of body fluids maintains skin reduces risk of tooth decay increases energy levels, reduces feelings of fatigue

Drinking water has another benefit — when people drink water instead of sugary drinks such as juice or soda, they consume fewer calories with no nutritional value, and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and tooth decay.

Water and Cognition Dehydration has physical effects on the brain, such as decreased blood flow, and it results in compromised cognitive function and fatigue. There is building evidence that acute dehydration can impair cognitive function, especially in children, impacting their readiness to learn and behaviour.

Studies in children and youth since 2005 have shown a specific effect of hydration on concentration, executive function, visual attention, fine motor skills and memory. Being dehydrated by just 2% can lead to impairment.

Research says … “The performance on mental tasks with a high cognitive load … tends to deteriorate as a function of being in a voluntary dehydrated state during the school day.” Other research suggests that while the brain can compensate for water restriction in the short term, this increased effort may not be sustained in the longer term, and adds to feeling fatigued. “On average the children spent 78.8% of their time on task after drinking water but significantly less time, only 53.0%, when water had not been consumed. The effect of drinking water persisted for the entire thirty minute period of observation.” “Students aged 8-9 performed a task involving the ability to resist distractions and maintain focus. Even after adjustment for age, IQ, socioeconomic status, weight status, and aerobic fitness level, higher water intake correlated with a greater ability to maintain task performance when there were more distractions.” Students aged 10-12 who started the school day dehydrated performed as well as their well-hydrated peers on a series of cognitive tests administered at the beginning of the day; however, by noon, their performance was weaker than their peers, especially on a short-term memory task. (2) Students aged 9 were observed on six occasions a week apart; on three occasions, they had supplementary water, and on three occasions they did not. The children were observed for thirty minutes to assess whether they were on task or off task (looking around; talking; fidgeting; out of seat) while writing or solving mathematical problems. (4) when the participants were dehydrated, they expended more effort to complete a task requiring executive function. The researchers concluded, “while the brain can compensate for water restriction in the short term, this increased effort may not be sustained in the longer term.” They also indicated that their findings might explain the results of previous studies demonstrating that dehydration “caused changes in subjective ratings, such as increased tiredness, and higher levels of perceived effort and concentration.”

Maintaining adequate hydration throughout the day is important for children’s ability to learn and to self-regulate. Children who have free access to water on their desk drink more water than children who have limited access. Increased access to water may increase a child’s need to use the bathroom but this is short term and quickly resolves as their body adjusts.

Several studies have shown that providing cool, filtered water along with education about its benefits significantly increases the amount of water that students consume. The educational component in particular was shown to be associated with a greater increase in water consumption than just the provision of cool, filtered water.

Simple modifications to the school’s drinking water environment can have a significant impact; when disposable cups were provided next to the drinking fountains, the amount of water consumed per student more than tripled, and the percentage of students choosing to drink water during lunch more than doubled.

“Just add water” Water is safe, accessible, clean, and can be tolerated by just about everyone. Ensuring that children/youth have access to safe, good-tasting water throughout their school day is an inexpensive and simple way to support their health and achievement. Upcoming speakers will share strategies and resources to support water focus in schools.