How Dehydration Affects Your Child’s Academic Performance and How It Can be Improved
Dehydration affects your child’s performance in school in more ways than one. Good academic performance requires more than just more study, it also requires adequate hydration. Water makes up a bigger portion of a human’s body and is needed for all bodily functions critical for survival and optimum performance. One of the bodily functions that require adequate water is cognitive function which entails one’s memory, mood and ability to concentrate. These components affect academic performance as they determine focus, information retention and comprehension.
For children that are still growing and developing, taking in adequate water becomes a very critical component for the optimum overall cognitive performance.
The human brain is composed of nearly 75% water, and dehydration can negatively affect synaptic transmission, disrupt
neurochemical processes, and impair oxygen and glucose delivery to neurons and these physiological alterations translate into measurable declines in cognitive efficiency and mental stamina (Sumitra et al., 2025). This underlines the importance of adequate hydration to the brain.
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How hydration influences academic performance
Concentration
According to Zhang et al., 2019, dehydration impairs attention, which means the ability to focus and concentrate will be reduced. For a child in school, impaired concentration in class, while studying or during an examination may become prominent. Some of the symptoms of impaired focus include mind wandering, day dreaming and scanty school work because of lack of concentration. All these will definitely impact their academic performance negatively.
However, rehydration improves attention, so it is recommended that if your child is facing any difficulty concentrating, rehydration may help alleviate their concentration challenges.
Memory
Memory entails the retention and recalling of information learnt and if impaired it results in the reduction in the quality of academic performance.
Memory is needed during examinations, interviews and for the absorption of learnt concepts during lessons. According to Zhang et al., 2019, dehydration negatively affects short term memory and school children affected by this may find it difficult to recall learnt concepts during exams, remember instructions during the execution of tasks and may have difficulty in comprehending information.
Mood
The state of your child’s emotional wellbeing also determines their success in academic performance. Dehydration causes fatigue and total mood disturbance which can also cause esteem related issues (Zhang et al., 2019 ). Affected children may show poor motivation, stress and mood swings which then negatively affect participation in school activities and their relationships.
Information processing and problem solving
According to Sumitra et al., 2025 dehydration compromises the brain’s ability to process and respond to information efficiently and dehydrated individuals take significantly longer to complete tasks. This means that any school child who is affected by dehydration may struggle with finishing tasks, for example, practical examinations that are timed, which will obviously cause them to perform poorly.
On another note, the compromise in the ability to process information, also negatively affects problem solving abilities and according to a study by Sumitra et al., 2025 dehydrated individuals had higher rates of errors in their work. This implies that if your child is affected, he or she may not be able to produce high quality work and face difficulty in problem solving tasks in school, which impairs their performance.
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Decision making
According to Sumitra et al., 2025, mild dehydration can lead to decreased neural activity in regions associated with decision-making, which is a critical skill in academic settings. Decision making is important in carrying out practical tasks, examination settings where one has to decide on which questions or sections to tackle and even in personal decisions. If decision making is impaired, the child may make poor decisions which may impact negatively on their performance.
Tips to stay hydrated
Children often get dehydrated due to their busy schedules and the general lack of interest in drinking water. Here are some few tips to improve hydration.
- Drink water first thing in the morning
- Eat water rich fruits
- Reduce the intake of caffeine and sugary drinks and increase water intake
- Always keep a water bottle handy at all times
- Drink water all day
- Monitor your hydration levels at all times and always rehydrate if you are dehydrated
Signs of dehydration
- Feeling thirsty
- Dark yellow urine
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
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Water plays a vital role in concentration, memory, mood, and overall brain function. Even mild dehydration can make it more difficult for school children to learn effectively and perform at their best in school.
Hydration creates a strong foundation that helps the brain function efficiently and supports quality academic performance and overall lifelong wellness.
Sources
- Zhang N, Du SM, Zhang JF, Ma GS. Effects of Dehydration and Rehydration on Cognitive Performance and Mood among Male College Students in Cangzhou, China: A Self-Controlled Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 May 29;16(11):1891. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16111891. PMID: 31146326; PMCID: PMC6603652.
- L K Sumitra, Swetha M, Gopireddy Aniruddha (2025), HYDRATION STATUS AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND REACTION TIME IN YOUNG ADULTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY, Int J Acad Med Pharm 2025; 7 (2); 157-162. DOI: 10.47009/jamp.2025.7.2.33
Written by:
Laura Mlambo
Medically Reviewed by:
This article was reviewed by the OhHealthWorld Editorial Review Team using credible health resources and public health guidance to ensure accuracy and clarity for readers. Information is intended to support general wellness education and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Last Updated:
29 June 2026
