Almost all parents want to keep their kids fit and healthy so that they can live long and happy lives, Dr Soha says. However, with the ever-present temptation of junk food and a lack of emphasis or education on how you can be healthier, this can be quite problematic as we are unequipped and unable to know how to exercise properly and eat well too.
With that said, it is still your responsibility to ensure that your children are healthy. Learn to teach your children how to make better and healthier life choices by reading the following advice.
1. Set a Good Example
If you fail to live a healthy lifestyle, why would your children practice healthier life decisions? Of course, you eating junk food does not necessarily mean that they are completely unlikely to eat a healthy and well-balanced meal, but it does increase the chances of your children not understanding that certain foods are bad for them if they see their parents eating it too.
Lead by example by exercising (this could be heading to the gym or going for a brisk walk) and eating healthier meals that are balanced. You may also want to educate yourself on healthier practices and teach your children too.
2. Educate Your Children on Healthy Eating
Healthy eating can work wonders for your mental and physical health (including oral health), yet not too many people practice it and are likely to eat food that is riddled in sugar and saturated fat. It can be extremely difficult to educate your child on healthy eating when there is a lot of advertising of junk food, but it is essential that you cook your children balanced meals that have high nutritional value.
Getting your children to eat fruits and vegetables can be troublesome, but there are way to get your children to consume more of them. Be transparent and explain to your children what makes fruits and vegetables so good for you and why they are a crucial part of your diet.
At the end of the day, if you swap out chicken nuggets and chips for Quorn chicken nuggets and salad, you may have some uproar from your children. However, persevering and refusing to cook another meal, as well as sticking to healthier mealtimes, will eventually see your children enjoying the new foods.
3. Teach Them that Junk Food is a Treat
You do not need to eliminate junk food from their diet completely, but it should be greatly minimised and viewed as a treat. This is because junk food can be fattening and impact your overall health and well-being. Teach your children that junk food is a treat that they can earn every once and a while or that can be consumed during special events and occasions. Not only does this make them savour the food that they are eating, but it teaches them that junk food should be viewed as a treat and not an everyday occurrence.
4. Take Your Children to the Doctors if Needed
If your child is feeling unwell, do not hesitate to take them to the doctors or phone up your nearest hospital for advice and guidance. Of course, appointments are somewhat more difficult to come by, and there are regulations in place because of the coronavirus, but if you genuinely believe that your child may need medical assistance or you need guidance on a medical matter, speak to your doctor.
There are regular check-ups that are typically common for certain ages. You should be taking your child in for a check-up every month until they are 12 months old and, after that, book them in for a check-up every six months. Once they hit three years old, your child will typically only need a yearly check-up. Of course, every child is different, so you should speak to your doctor and health advisor.
5. Book Regular Appointments with the Dentist
Do not neglect your child’s teeth. When your child is too young to brush and care for their own teeth, you need to brush them. Then, once your child is old enough to do it themselves, you need to teach them how to brush their teeth properly and also ensure that they have the right toothbrush for their mouth. When your child starts getting teeth, you need to brush their teeth with an infant toothbrush. Then, once your baby’s teeth begin to touch, you can even start flossing them. And, according to this dentist in Mathews, once they’ve reached the ages between 8 and 10, they can start flossing on their own.
Caring for your child’s teeth is vital as you want to ensure that they have good oral hygiene. You should ensure that you have a trustworthy family dentist who can not only care for your child’s teeth but also provide them with the right guidance on how they can care for their teeth and mouth. A dental practice like Pure Dentistry is a dentist in Brisbane that offers a variety of dental services for children. Their dental team is well-versed in how to lessen the anxiety that is usually associated with dentists as they provide a great dental service for the whole family.
6. Promote Exercise Early On
You will want to approach the concept of exercising your child delicately. For example, you would not expect your child to head to the gym at a young age. However, there are numerous other ways to get your child to exercise, such as persuading them to join a sports team and trying out certain sports as a hobby. Helping your child find a sport that they love early on in their life can help them realise the benefits of sport and how it can help them physically, mentally, and socially.
Child-friendly sports that your child could participate in from a young age include:
- Football
- Rugby
- Aussie rules football
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Horse riding
- Gymnastics
What’s more, if your child loves a certain sport and wishes to dedicate their time to it, it could become a career prospect or even help them with their education. Numerous universities look for applicants that are sporty.
Once your child is older and considered an older teenager, they may also want to head to the gym. If this is the case, you could head to the gym with them or even hire them a personal trainer so that they are taught how to use the equipment properly and safely. The gym can be a dangerous place, but if your child is taught how to look after themselves and the equipment properly, this reduces the risks.
7. Less Screen Time
It can be difficult to pry your child’s eyes from their mobile phone, tablet, or PC when there is so much to see and do online, but it is important that you have rules in place that give your children a break from electronics. Have times assigned when they can play on the PC or play games, or offer them extra time on their electronics if they finish their chores well or do well on a test or piece of homework.
To promote good health and instil healthier habits in your children, you need to live a healthier lifestyle too. Make sure to keep on top of healthy eating, exercising and hospital check-ups to ensure your family is well.