Every parent wants their child to lead a happy and healthy life. In order for this to be the case, it is important that you make their health a priority, which can require conscious thought and effort. It is assumed that children will naturally be active and healthy but this is not always the case and this is evident through the rise in childhood obesity in recent times along with an increase in mental health problems. There are a few crucial pieces of advice to keep in mind which should help you to build a healthy lifestyle for your children who will take this through to adulthood.
- Lead By Example
First, you need to make sure that you are setting a good example for your children as kids will often adopt the lifestyle choices of their parents. This means that you should be exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and avoiding damage activities like drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
- Find An Active Hobby They Enjoy
Regular exercise is, of course, a cornerstone of good health, but it is not as easy as telling your child to start playing a sport. In order for them to be active regularly, it is important that they find an activity that they enjoy and you might find that your children like different activities to one another – it may also take trying a few different activities to find one they like. A few suggestions include:
- Competitive sport
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Provide A Healthy Diet
A healthy and balanced diet is another cornerstone of good health but it can also be challenging to encourage kids to eat well. You could help them get involved with cooking food as this will make them more likely to eat healthy food while also teaching them the valuable skill of cooking. Additionally, keep in mind that some sweets and chocolate are ok but it is all about moderation.
- Take Them To The Dentist Regularly
Good dental care and hygiene are essential from a young age, and you certainly won’t want them having to have lots of work done on their teeth. In addition to brushing twice daily, using mouthwash and flossing, you also need to find a good family-friendly dentist for regular checkups – click here for a good example. This should help them to maintain healthy teeth and gums and teach them the importance of dental health.
- Communicate
As previously mentioned, mental health has become a huge problem amongst today’s youth and this is an area that you need to watch out for. Regular communication and checking in is key but you should also look out for warning signs, limit screen time/social media usage, and ensure that they are getting outside and socializing regularly.
Taking steps to create a healthy lifestyle for your child is essential for promoting good health, avoiding illness and laying the foundation for them to have a healthy lifestyle going into adulthood. It is not as straightforward as it might seem and it will require a constant and conscious effort but is a vital part of good parenting.