This what parents saying childs. Fasting isn't about hunger or thirst(you can't even get realy hungery in a day), it is a reminder about understanding the ruler isn't your body(desires: hunger, thirst, addiction, sex...), you as a thinking human can control itself. And because of this reason ramadan also seen as a time to drop addictions. Unfortunately most of the muslims understanding of islam not going more than their chilhood simplified teachings.