In general, kids are healthy through a variety of things. This includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, vaccinations, and preventative measures. But sometimes it goes a little beyond the basics, where you are looking for more details on keeping your child healthy, both physical and mentally. Here are some tips for raising healthy children.
Teach Them to Eat Right
So many things regarding the health of your children, just like with adults, comes down to their diet. This doesn’t mean a diet where they try to lose weight or restrict food groups, but instead just focus on proper nutrition. You really want to go for a balanced diet, that includes foods with lots of vitamins and minerals.
Teach your kids to eat right by showing them the importance of a wide range of foods, reducing sugar and processed foods, and even keeping a food journal. Let them participate in the food prep and packing lunches to make it more interesting and educational for them.
Make Exercising a Family Affair
Have trouble getting your kids to put their phones away and exercise? Turn it into a fun family activity! This is going to double as exercise for the whole family, as well as some fun bonding time. There are many activities you can do indoors and outdoors as a family to get in more physical activity, but here are some ideas:
- Go on a hike
- Walk the dog in the evenings together
- Have an indoor dance party
- Try a family-friendly fitness class
- Train for and run a family 5K
- Ride bicycles together
- Walk at the local beach or lake
Instill the Importance of Hygiene and Oral Health
A big part of your overall health and that of your children is their oral health. Make sure they have good dental habits from the time their first tooth comes in. The earlier they get used to brushing and flossing daily, the more regular practice it becomes.
This is also a good time to talk about other areas of hygiene, from bathing regularly, to make sure they always wash their hands before meals and after using the restroom.
Don’t Neglect Their Mental Health
Finally, mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to your kids. They can also experience the same stress, anxiety, and depression as adults do. Pay attention to signs of stress or anxiety in your kids, such as acting out, grades dropping at school, spending time with different friends or isolating themselves, being overly moody or irritable, or a loss of appetite. Help find the source of your child’s stress and seek help from a professional if needed.
