If you’ve been wondering how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle, you’re not alone. Many parents wonder what they can do to get their kids to eat better, sleep better, and of course avoid as many trips to the doctor’s as possible.
So what can parents do to encourage their children to live a healthy lifestyle? Here are some tips:
1. Start Early: The sooner you introduce healthy lifestyle habits to your child, the less resistance you will get and the easier it will be for them to continue those healthy lifestyle habits throughout their childhood and into adulthood. Start introducing your child to healthy vegetables as soon as they start eating solid foods and try to limit added sugar and sweets. If you’re kids are past babyhood and toddlerhood though, don’t worry – just keep gradually trying new things until they find something they like.
2. Set a Good Example: Children will often want to do what they see adults doing. If you for example eat a lot of sweet snacks and don’t exercise on a regular basis, they will likely do the same. But if you get into a regular exercise routine, they will want to join in and it can become a fun regular activity the whole family can enjoy. Setting a good example by also not doing things such as smoking or drinking alcohol can also help your children not feel like you are saying “do as I say, not as I do”.
3. Have Them Drink More Water: Most kids don’t drink enough water each day, and this can cause them instead to overload on sugary soft drinks or fruit juices. Serve water or milk with meals. Some children might even like vegetable juice, depending on how much they’ve been exposed to sugary sweet drinks only.
4. Cook Healthier: It’s easy for parents to make a few simple changes in the food the serve at home. Using foods with no trans fat or reduced fat is one easy way to start cooking healthier. Another way to help children to live a healthy lifestyle is introduce them to whole grains instead of refined grains. Cutting out any added sugar, salt, and fat to your regular cooking can make a great beginning for healthy eating habits.
5. Make Family Exercise a Regular Thing: Exercising with the family can be a lot of fun. Turn on some great music and start dancing around, or start taking regular walks and bicycle rides if your children are old enough. It can be a great way to spend time together and do something healthy at the same time.
6. Establish a Normal Bed Time Routine: Many parents overlook bedtime routines, but having one can make a big difference in the cooperation you get from your child to do other healthy things and his or her overall well being. Getting enough sleep each night will help them be more resistant to colds and other contagious illnesses that pass through schools quickly. It will also put them in a much happier mood and make it easier for them to avoid unhealthy habits.
7. Reduce Stress: Stress can have many negative consequences on both parents and children. It can affect their mood, their sleep, and their eating habits. Some children may overeat when stressed while others may not eat enough. Others may be more likely to do things such as sit in front of the television for hours instead of more productive and healthier activities. It can be difficult for families to realize what is causing stress, but often it can be alleviated by reducing the number of unnecessary responsibilities or becoming more organized. For example, if mornings are always hectic at your house, try laying out clothes for school, taking baths, packing lunches, and maybe even have breakfast on the go ready all the night before. The more you do to become organized and develop a routine, the less stress you and your children will experience.
8. Encourage Healthy Decision Making: Most kids like to have the feeling that they are in control. One way to give them some control is to teach them about making healthy choices and letting them make choices. For example, you can ask them if they’d rather have green beans or carrots for dinner or go for a walk or play Frisbee. If you have older children, you will want to talk to them about how to make healthy choices amongst their peers, even if it’s not what everybody else is doing.
9. Exercise Their Minds: Kids might have a lot to do at school, but its also likely they are turning into mush sitting there day in and day out. Helping your child do well in subjects such as math or language or even just doing puzzles and playing games as a family can help keep their minds active and exercised. Reading to your children is also recommended – if they are older kids who can read on their own, encourage trips to the library and for them to tell you about the stories they read. Keeping children mentally healthy can have a big impact on their other health aspects.
10. Be Environmentally Conscious & Teach Safety: The environment can play a big part in your child’s health also. Teach them the basics and practice recycling, saving energy, and using things responsibly. While talking to your kids about things like poisons in the home such as bleach, gasoline or lead paint probably aren’t high on your to-do list, it’s important that kids know that these things can also be bad for them. You should also make sure your family has a fire safety plan, know what to do in an emergency, and other basic safety needs, such as wearing seat belts, street crossing, and wearing bike helmets. Many children each year are hospitalized and killed because of injuries – teaching good safety habits are another way to encourage children to live a healthy lifestyle.
We hope you enjoyed our tips on ways on how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle. If you have any other suggestions for parents or thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments below!