This DIY Water Bottle Halloween Koozie tutorial was created as part of a sponsored project with Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are my own.
Our family drinks a lot of water — it’s really our go-to beverage. Still, for convenience I had been slipping a juice box into my daughter Lilu’s school lunch. I wanted her to stay hydrated, but I worried that the added sugar in juice could give her a spike in energy that makes it harder to concentrate in class.
I considered sending a regular 16-ounce water bottle, but I worried it might be too large for her lunch box and that she wouldn’t finish it. On a trip to Walmart I discovered Nestlé Pure Life “Juniors,” smaller 8-ounce bottles that are just the right size for a young child’s lunch.
Lilu likes feeling responsible for her choices and will drink water when it’s appealing, but she’s often so busy during lunchtime that she forgets to drink. Since I can’t remind her all the time, I wanted an easy, visual way to help her remember to hydrate.
A recent Nestlé Pure Life survey found that about 33% of kids say they need reminders to drink water. Experts suggest simple, fun tactics can help — for example, designating a special space in the fridge for your child’s bottle, putting a favorite sticker on their cup, or keeping a water bottle on a low shelf labeled with their initial. Making water fun and visible helps kids form a habit.
Inspired by Halloween crafts and wanting something eye-catching for Lilu’s lunch, I made a Jack-O-Lantern koozie for an 8-ounce water bottle. It keeps the water cool and is fun enough that she notices it and drinks throughout the day.
Nestlé Pure Life supports the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Drink Up initiative and calls this effort “The Ripple Effect.” Their survey also showed that 97% of moms believe making one healthy choice often leads to other healthy choices, and switching to water is an easy place to start. Nestlé Pure Life has committed to providing nearly one million 8-ounce servings of water to kids this school year through After-School All-Stars at select schools.
Here’s how you make a Halloween Koozie:
I found an inexpensive orange foam koozie in the sporting goods section for about a dollar. It was the perfect base for a simple Jack-O-Lantern design.
To make the face, I lightly sketched a Jack-O-Lantern expression with a pencil. Then I used small craft scissors to cut out the eyes and mouth. Imperfections add character, and the foam stretches a bit when the koozie goes on the bottle, so a handmade look works well.
For the finishing touch I attached a small green bow to suggest the pumpkin stem. Lilu loved the result — it was playful, compact enough for her lunch box, and made the water bottle more inviting.
Did you know?
According to the Nestlé Pure Life survey, moms report that water makes up 67% of their daily beverage intake, while children’s beverages are only about 48% water. The survey also indicates that children who drink four or more glasses of water a day tend to make healthier choices overall.
Small changes and simple reminders can make a big difference. A colorful koozie, a labeled bottle, or a special sticker can encourage kids to choose water more often and help build healthy habits that last.
How do you encourage your kids to drink more water? Share your tips below:
*Survey conducted online in June 2015 of 1,077 moms of kids ages 6–12 overall, including 254 Hispanic moms of kids ages 6–12. The survey also included 1,077 kids ages 6–12 from the same households, including 254 Hispanic kids ages 6–12.