Let’s face it – parenting can be hard. Sometimes we want to do what’s the easiest and that is perfectly fine. However, it is essential to remember that kids imitate their parents and sense when something is wrong. By teaching healthy and regular patterns into their lives, teaching about healthy habits for kids becomes much easier.
In this article, we’re covering the top 10 healthy habits for kids. Read through the article or skip directly to your favorite part.
1. Opt for healthy food
Encourage your child to choose healthy food options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
It has never been as easy to enjoy unhealthy foods as it is now. Everyone knows to avoid fast food, but avoiding processed foods at the grocery store may be trickier. However, just like everything else, enjoying healthy food alternatives comes from parents. Kids mimic their parents’ food habits and therefore, eating healthy as a family matters.
Eating fruits, vegetables and lean proteins doesn’t have to be difficult. Make sure they are always available and that eating healthy becomes a habit. However, you shouldn’t glorify unhealthy foods like candy, chocolate or ice cream as a treat, either; by doing so, kids may want them even more. Enjoy regular healthy meals and teach about the food to kids and teens.
2. Limit screen time
Set a limit on the amount of screen time your child has each day. Encourage them to engage in physical activity and other hobbies instead.
Parenting communities both online and offline argue often about the screen time while public health organizations also set their official recommendations for kids at all age groups. Naturally, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to the screen time.
However, it’s a known fact that spending multiple hours a day in front of screens has an adverse effect on kids’ moods, behavior, school performance and sleeping patterns. This combined with the fact that nowadays computers and mobile devices are used often in educational settings, it’s no wonder that children become used to the sedentary lifestyle. The big downside is that most college paperwork is done in front of a screen, but there is https://mypaperdone.com/do-my-project to solve this issue.
Limiting screen time should start early; set how many hours your kids can have screen time per day and week. However, you should also make sure that there are enough healthy alternatives for them to explore both indoors and outdoors. Incentivize them to explore some sort of physical activity and lead by example.
3. Cherish family time
The second point ties perfectly into the third recommended healthy habit for kids. Spending time with your child should be a top priority of a healthy family. Family time is far more valuable for kids than what we sometimes think. Spending time together as a family will not only strengthen the relationship between family members but also teach social skills to your children at any age.
Family time doesn’t have to be expensive or spectacular. Cooking dinner tonight? Ask your kids to participate in it. Do the kids have a hobby or activity they love? Join it.
4. Have a healthy sleeping cycle
Is the bedtime a horrible nightmare or something that kids look forward to? While it’s impossible to do the perfect bedtime routine every single night (after all, we all are just humans), certain aspects can definitely help in teaching a healthy sleeping cycle, such as:
- Setting a consistent bedtime as it’ll help kids get used to the routine
- Eliminating all screens (yes, even TVs) in the bedroom / sleeping area
- Eating well balanced meals throughout the day
- Doing at least an hour of physical activity in a day
- Be a role model for kids. Aim for good night sleep and value it
Try these tips to help your child learn one of the most important healthy habits for kids early on.
5. Emphasize the importance of exercising
As mentioned above, physical activity has a massive role in making sure that the kids get enough sleep and the sleep is of high quality. However, this is only one of the reasons why exercise should be highly encouraged by parents. Childhood obesity rates are higher than ever; in 2020, WHO reported that over 39 million children under the age of 5 were either overweight or obese.
Staying active is essential for kids for other, non-weight related reasons, too. Exercise is known to boost self-confidence. By learning new ways to move and explore the world together with other kids, children develop social skills, such as teamwork, communication and cooperation, which in turn has a positive effect on mental health.
6. Show your kids how to share
Sharing is caring. Yet, many arguments among children arise from being unable to share sweets, toys or other items. Start teaching how to share at an early age. When a child shares, say that their behavior is correct. If your kid is an only child, you could practice sharing together with them through role-play.
7. Talk about emotional intelligence
Are you familiar with the term emotional intelligence? It refers to the ability to understand and manage our emotions; something that can be challenging for kids (and sometimes even for adults). As parents, we have the choice to either introduce the concept of how to balance our emotions and act appropriately in certain situations. Developing children’s emotional intelligence isn’t easy, but luckily there are many healthcare professionals and online guides that can help with choosing the age appropriate method and approach for parents. Remember to validate and value kids’ emotions and help them understand why they feel the way they do and how to let emotions out in a positive way.
8. Encourage your kids to test their limits (safely)
As parents, we often tend to be vary of the world and the dangers it possesses to our children. While keeping safe is good, it can also harm children. Kids that lack experiences of trial and error as well as failure often have challenges when being brave is necessary. This can, in turn, impact the capability of standing your ground later on in life.
There are hundreds of ways to explore their limits in a safe manner. Any physical activity, such as trampolining, could be a way for your child to explore the world safely. As an example, safe play with trampolines could be introduced by teaching the basics, such as safety rules, and gradually allowing kids to explore more difficult jumps, which in turn helps with building confidence. For more information, visit ca.acon24.com and its blog to learn more about trampolines.
9. Teach kids how to apologize
Apologizing is a skill that can never be learned too young. To teach your child how to apologize, start by copying the behavior yourself. Encourage your child to do the same by teaching them to use the words ‘‘I`m sorry‘‘ and emphasizing the importance of recognizing the impact their actions have on others. Always praise your child when he apologizes and emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for your actions.
10. Stay positive
Easier said than done, right? We all experience situations where negative emotions cannot be avoided. However, staying positive isn’t all about being jolly 24/7. It’s more about being able to see the good in the world. Finding the good even in bad situations will teach kids to appreciate what they’ve got and show that staying positive will lead to good things in life.
Teaching healthy habits for kids is a crucial aspect of parenting and caregiving. By instilling good habits early on, children can develop lifelong practices that contribute to their overall health and well-being. As a caregiver, it is important to model healthy behaviors yourself and create a positive and supportive environment for your child to adopt healthy habits.
Remember that the habits children develop during their early years can have a lasting impact on their physical and mental health as they grow older. Encouraging healthy eating, regular physical activity, and good sleep habits can set them up for success in all aspects of their lives. With a bit of patience, guidance, and positive reinforcement, you can help develop healthy habits for kids that will benefit them for years to come.
