An individual's body mass is made up of 50-60% water and it has been shown that only 5-10% of that water is replenished each day (Maughan, 2003) . Children are more prone to dehydration due to their surface area to body mass ratio, which means their skin absorbs more heat when the ambient temperature is higher than the skin temperature. For this reason, perspiration is essential for children as it prevents the increase in body temperature (Petrie, Stover & Horswill, 2004). When exercise or an activity is performed outdoors in the heat, the loss of water is much more substantial than it would be if the activity was performed indoors or in a cooler climate. For example, if an individual runs or bikes in hot weather, they have the potential to lose several liters of sweat in a single day! (Maughan, 2003). It has been shown that even a small water deficit has the ability to impair physical performance, and an even greater deficit can cause weakness, nausea and migraines (Maughan, 2003). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Furthermore, when fluid intake is limited, attention and concentration begin to decline, along with decision making and reaction time (Gopinathan, Pichan & Sharma, 1988). Most people do not feel thirsty until they have sustained a water deficit of approximately 2% of their body mass. From this it can be inferred that an individual performing exercise or activity in the heat may not even know that they are dehydrated to the point that their physical performance is already suffering (Maughan, 2003). Additionally, children are not always aware of their thirst level, so they should be encouraged to consume more fluids. There are many determining factors that can alter this behavior. One of the main determinants is temperature. For example, a child will most likely not sweat as much if he or she is doing an outdoor activity on a brisk fall day instead of doing the same activity in the middle of summer under the blazing sun. The type of activity or sport can also influence this: playing catch is not as intense an activity as playing football. Since children mostly stay in one place while shooting, they may not sweat as much as when playing soccer, since they don't exert as much energy running back and forth on a soccer field. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Another important environmental factor may include access to safe and clean drinking water. It is extremely difficult for people in developing countries to have consistent access to water, so this could greatly affect your child's fluid intake. Poverty and food insecurity are also crucial. If a family is homeless, it is difficult for parents to provide their children with an adequate amount of water or food. Taking all this information into account, it would be best to turn to parents of elementary age children. As mentioned above, children are not always aware that they are thirsty, or that their bodies need water or other liquids. So, by making parents aware of the potential risks of insufficient water consumption, they can encourage their children to consume more fluids, not only during physical activity, but at all times..