An individual's body mass is made up of 50-60% water, and it has been shown that only 5-10% of this water is replenished every day (Maughan, 2003). Children are more prone to dehydration because of their surface area to body mass ratio, which means their skin absorbs more heat when the ambient temperature is higher than their skin temperature. For this reason, sweating is essential for children because it prevents an increase in body temperature (Petrie, Stover & Horswill, 2004). When an exercise or activity is performed outdoors in hot weather, water loss is much greater than it would be if the activity were performed indoors or in a cooler climate. For example, if a person runs or bikes in hot weather, they risk losing several liters of sweat in a single day! (Maughan, 2003). It has been proven that even a tiny fluid deficit can impair exercise performance, and an even larger deficit can cause weakness, nausea, and migraines (Maughan, 2003). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Additionally, when fluid intake is limited, alertness and concentration begin to decline, along with decision-making and reaction time (Gopinathan, Pichan & Sharma, 1988). Most people don't feel thirsty until they have a water deficit of about 2% of their body mass. From this, it can be suggested that a person performing exercise or activity in hot weather may not even know that they are dehydrated, to the point that their physical performance is already affected (Maughan, 2003). Additionally, children are not always aware of their thirst level. We must therefore encourage them to consume more liquids. Many determinants can modify this behavior. One of the main determinants is temperature. For example, a child probably won't sweat as much if he or she does an activity outside on a brisk fall day, rather than doing the same activity in the middle of summer, under the scorching sun. The type of activity or sport can also affect this – playing baseball is not as intense an activity as playing football. Since children are generally standing in one place while catching, they may not sweat as much as when playing soccer because they are not exerting as much energy running back and forth on a football field. Keep in mind: is just a sample.Get a custom paper from our expert writers now.Get a Custom EssayAnother important environmental factor can include access to safe and clean drinking water. It is extremely difficult for people in developing countries to have consistent access to water, which could greatly affect children's fluid intake. Poverty and food insecurity are also a determining factor. If a family is homeless, it is difficult for parents to provide their children with sufficient water or food. Taking all this information into account, it would be best to target parents of primary-aged children. As noted earlier, children don't always realize that they are thirsty or that their body needs water or other fluids. So, by making parents aware of the potential risks of not drinking enough water, they can encourage their children to consume more fluids, not only when exercising, but at all times..