Back To School📚
September marks the return to classrooms, timetables, and the opportunity to build new routines that stick. As the school gates swing open, it’s not only pencils and planners that matter, it’s the wellbeing of pupils and students. At BRITA, we believe that the start of the academic year is the perfect moment to champion healthy habits, especially hydration, as a foundation for learning and sustainable action.
Studies show that even mild dehydration can impact mood, memory, and attention span. For children and teens, whose bodies and minds are still developing, drinking enough water is essential. Research highlights just how crucial hydration is: studies have found that even a 1–2% decrease in body water can impair cognitive performance and mood.
Yet many students still reach for sugary drinks or simply forget water altogether. Encouraging regular water intake can improve concentration, reduce fatigue, and support better academic performance. It’s a simple change with lasting benefits.
Building Healthy Habits🍎
Surveys reveal that nearly 60% of students fall short of their recommended water intake during the school week. To encourage students to hydrate more, easy access to water is key. BRITA’s Water Filter Bottles make fresh, filtered water available wherever pupils go. With built-in filtration, students can refill from any tap, ensuring hydration throughout the day while helping to reduce single-use plastic.
Chaotic mornings can be streamlined by packing school bags the night before, including a reusable bottle, filled and ready to go. This small step not only eases the rush but also encourages sustainable choices.
Making healthy habits fun encourages consistency. Try a weekly hydration challenge: how many times can you refill your bottle? Use a sticker chart or reward system to motivate young kids. It’s a great way to build enthusiasm and reinforce the importance of self-care.
Leading By Example👨👩👧👦
Leading by example is important as children learn from the adults around them. According to our partners the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, up to 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans every year. When parents and carers opt for reusable bottles rather than buying single-use multi-pack bottles of water on the weekly shop, it sets a powerful example.
Refilling a bottle before leaving the house, choosing tap water over bottled, and talking about sustainability at home all help embed values that last well beyond the school year.
Over time, these small daily actions become meaningful rituals, part of your family’s everyday life.
Let’s Raise A Bottle💧
This September, let’s go beyond the usual back-to-school checklist. Equip pupils not just with supplies, but with habits that help them thrive: for their learning, for their wellbeing, and for the planet. With the knowledge that simply drinking an extra cup of water a day can boost children’s attention and memory in class, it’s clear that hydration is a small step with a big impact.
