During the summer months, people try various ways to beat the heat. Some prefer wearing light clothing, while others drink plenty of water and juice. Staying indoors during the day is another common strategy. Many also enjoy going for a swim or heading for a vacation to the hill stations.

If adults find it difficult to bear the summer heat, imagine how children feel. According to the British Nutrition Foundation, little ones are less tolerant of heat and tend to get dehydrated more quickly. The best way to keep them cool is to encourage them to drink plenty of healthy, refreshing beverages and stay well hydrated.

Refreshing and healthy summer drinks for kids

Here are some tasty and healthy summer drinks for kids to try this summer:

1. Lemon water

Nothing tastes more refreshing in summer than a chilled glass of lemon water. The prime ingredient of this drink is the humble lemon, which has been recognised for its endless health benefits. Rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, and iron, while keeping your little ones cool and refreshed. It also strengthens the immune system, aids digestion, and supports the body's natural detoxification process.

2. Coconut water

Apart from being a delicious, low-calorie natural beverage, coconut water is packed with antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, vitamin C, and other minerals. The various micronutrients present in coconut water help boost the immune system, making it an excellent drink for children. Coconut water is easy on a toddler's stomach and soothes tummy troubles like indigestion, acid reflux, and gastroenteritis.

3. Gulkand milkshake

Gulkand milkshake is a healthy summer drink that helps cool the body and reduce the risk of heatstroke. A rose petal jam, gulkand, can easily be made at home, and it has numerous benefits such as reducing acidity, improving appetite, and purifying the blood.

4. Aam panna

This is a light green-colored Indian drink made from raw mangoes, sugar, and an assortment of spices. It is a useful remedy that counters the summer heat and prevents heat strokes. Aam panna is rich in vitamin C and prevents an excessive loss of sodium chloride and zinc from the body.

5. Salted lassi

Who does not love a tall, chilled glass of lassi? It is not only a great summer drink, but also one of the best health drinks that children can have to beat the heat. One of the key ingredients in salted lassi is ginger, which is known to aid digestion. It also functions as a general laxative loaded with vitamin B12, calcium, and potassium.

6. Buttermilk

Popularly called chaas in North India, buttermilk is a well-known and inexpensive summer drink. Made from curd and spices such as jeera, curry leaves, ginger, and salt, chaas has many benefits for children. It helps soothe the stomach, aids digestion, prevents vitamin deficiency, and prevents dehydration in toddlers.

7. Jal jeera

This tangy drink is a great favorite among kids. You can make this by adding roasted cumin, pepper, dry mango powder, and black salt to lemonade. It can be garnished with mint leaves and boondhi before serving. Cumin is a rich source of iron and aids in digestion, too. Jal jeera is not only a good refreshing drink, but also a great digestive stimulant and appetiser.

8. Neeragaram

This humble porridge made using leftover rice (soaked overnight in water) and curd is probably one of the best drinks your kids can have in summer. It has been a traditional drink of many families for generations. This easy-to-make drink is rich in probiotics, electrolytes, and other nutrients that provide loads of energy and keep illnesses and health problems at bay. The best way to have it is with shallots and lime or mango pickle as accompaniments.

9. Jigarthanda

What happens when you blend chilled milk, edible sea algae, nannari syrup, almond resin, basundi, and dollops of ice cream? You get jigarthanda, which has a truly delightful taste! This concoction of versatile ingredients is a great cooling agent to beat heat-related ailments in kids. It also supplies vital nutrients.

10. Palm fruit sherbet

The ice apple from the palmyra tree, commonly known as Nungu in Tamil, is a tender fruit that acts as a natural coolant and is abundant in vitamins and minerals. Make a Nungu drink using chunks of ice apple, lemon juice, and rose syrup, and your children will love it. Apart from having an unbeatable taste, the Nungu cures summertime thirst and cools the body.

11. Nannari sherbet

Known as Indian Sarasaparilla and mentioned in Ayurvedic texts as Ananthamoola, nannari is a wonder herb that has great cooling properties. Just get a trusted brand of nannari concentrate, mix with some chilled water, and pep it up with some lime juice to prepare a divinely tasty drink for your kids. Nannari not only cools down the body but also effectively maintains the health of the liver and kidneys.

12. Panakam

This simple household drink makes for a great summer drink with all its loaded goodness. Made with jaggery, cardamom, pepper, and ginger, panakam is easy to prepare, and your children will love it. It is rich in iron, vitamins, and minerals, has zero calories, and functions as a wonderful body cleanser.

13. Pearl millet porridge

Here's one drink that cools the body on hot summer days and serves as a fulfilling meal too. To make the porridge or kambukoozh, pearl millet (kambu in Tamil and bajra in Hindi) is cooked and then soaked overnight in water. The next morning, buttermilk is added and served. Children will love this cool drink along with chunks of raw onions or fried vadagams and mor milagais. Pearl millet is a powerhouse of nutrients, including iron, protein, and antioxidants, and has amazing benefits. A summer drink can't get healthier than this!

14. Rose milk

How can we ignore this pink beauty in this list of summer drinks? No child will ever refuse a few chilled glasses of rose milk, any time of the day. Easy and quick to prepare, this flavourful drink quenches thirst and keeps them hydrated too. The protein in milk supplies all the energy your kids need for hours and hours of play in the summer heat.

15. Falooda

More of a dessert than a drink, falooda is a combination of sabja seeds, vermicelli, rose syrup, chilled milk, and ice cream, topped with chopped almonds and pistachios. Children love its flavourful yumminess and ask for more! Sabja seeds are a rich source of minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, and cool the body.

During the hot summer days, your children need refreshing drinks that will keep them cool and hydrated. All the drinks mentioned above, along with an adequate intake of water, cool the body and provide wholesome nutrients, unlike the fizzy drinks available in the market. So, go ahead and surprise your children with these healthy sips!

Last updated on: March 30, 2026