10 Tips to Help Children Develop Healthy Habits

Developing healthy habits for kids should be the focus of every parent.  As a parent, children look up to you to help guide and teach them. You have the opportunity and responsibility to help your child develop healthy habits early in life that can impact their health for a lifetime. The American heart association shared tips and guidelines below that will help you encourage your kids to make better food and activity choices and establish habits that can last a lifetime.

1.Be a good role model

You don’t have to be perfect all the time, but if kids see you trying to eat right and getting physically active, they’ll take notice of your efforts. You’ll send a message that good health is important to your family. When you drink water instead of a soda, or pick the low-sodium soup at the grocery store, it sends a message that good health is important. Click here for ways to be Role model to your kids.

2.Keep things positive

Kid’s don’t like to hear what they can’t-do, tell them what they can do instead. Let them know they can do it. Keep it fun and positive. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes, encourage them and let them know they can do better in their weakness, do not compare them with other kids, help children and teens develop a good self-image.

3.Get the whole family moving

Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together. I remember a kid in my neighborhood once told her friends mum I love your family and I don’t love mine when asked why? the kid answered, my dad always scold us and doesn’t allow us to talk or play whenever we are out with him, this kid has felt what is like sharing the thought, playing and moving along with another family than hers.

4.Be realistic

Setting realistic goals and limits are key to adopting any new behavior. Keep it real, Small steps and gradual changes can make a big difference in your health over time, so start small and build up.

5.Limit TV, video game and computer time

These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking, kids spend approximately 95% of their free time on video games, computer, phones. Ever taken your time to observe their favorite tv programs, what they do mostly with their free time. Tv, video games, and computer are addictive as alcohol. Better controlled now.

6.Encourage physical activities that they’ll really enjoy

Every child is unique. Let your child experiment with different activities until they find something that they really love doing. Get them involved in that they find interesting encourage them. Listen to interest call, help them choose wisely, follow up with them on their choice. They’ll stick with it longer if they love it.

7.Pick truly rewarding rewards

Don’t reward children with TV, video games, candy or snacks for a job well done. Let your reward push them to aim higher, let also reward the greatest reward to hard work is Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.

8.Make dinnertime a family time

When everyone sits down together to eat, there’s less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Get your kids involved in cooking and planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits together and the quality time with the family will be an added bonus.

9.Make a game of reading food labels

The whole family will learn what’s good for their health and be more conscious of what they eat, reasons they should or shouldn’t eat that particular course of a meal when and how right to eat it, It’s a habit that helps change behavior for a lifetime.

10.Stay involved

Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure your children’s healthcare providers are monitoring cardiovascular indicators like BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol. Contact public officials on matters of the heart. Know their friends, their favorite sport, game, food. Make your voice heard.