As a parent, there is nothing more important than knowing that your child is healthy, but that is not the only thing. You will also need to teach your kids to follow some rules to ensure that later on in life they can remain healthy on their own when they start making their own choices. Here are 10 very useful and simple ones you can have them follow.
1. Minimal Sugar Intake
What a lot of people don’t realize is that if you are giving your child more than 10 percent of their sugar intake will create a risk for several serious health issues such as high cholesterol as well as dental issues. It is very important that you teach them from a young age about healthy alternatives they can take when they are craving sugar. But it is just as important that you don’t forbid them from having anything, instead, teach them about moderation.
2. Teach Them to Drink Plenty of Water
Even though it might seem like something that doesn’t need to be taught, helping them get into the habit of keeping their bodies hydrated will make them have a healthier lifestyle later on in life. By having them drink enough water which is about 2 liters per day if they are around years old. The simplest thing that you can teach them is to drink water when they feel thirsty before reaching for other drinks. Help them see water as something that will quench their thirst and not something that they have to drink instead of juice.
3. Avoid Teaching Them The ‘Clean Plate’ Rule
Most of us have been raised with the clean the plate rule when we are eating. But that is only teaching kids unhealthy habits such as overeating, bridge eating as well as developing eating disorders. Clean the plate rule is something that will cause kids to have an unhealthy relationship with food. If you are dealing with a child that is picky, instead of forcing them to clean up the plate, try encouraging them and experimenting with different foods. Forcing them to eat a certain amount of food will only have a negative impact on them.
4. Breakfast is Important
We all know that breakfast is a very important meal, especially for kids as you want to fuel their bodies before going to school or activities. By having a nice meal they will be able to concentrate and stay active during their school hours. Even if they are not hungry in the morning for a big breakfast, offer them some fruit or cereal just to get a good start to their day. Also always ask them if they want a big or small breakfast, no one is hungry for the same amount of food every day.
5. Have Common House Rules
Children copy how their role models behave. That is why you need to set good examples at home. Teaching them common rules will help them have healthy habits. They will follow rules better if they see others following them.
6. Good Oral Health
Teach them to brush their teeth twice a day no matter what. Encourage them by explaining to them what can happen if they don’t do so. You will also need to take them to their annual kids’ dentist appointments, to ensure their teeth are nice and healthy.
7. Encourage Physical Activity
Kids nowadays want to spend all their free time staring at a screen, which is not ideal as they need physical activity in order to develop. That is why your job as a parent is to teach them about how important being physically active is. If they do want to do any parochial spots, you can make it into a family activity and go on adventures.
8. Good Hygiene
Just like having good oral hygiene, you need to teach your kids that they need to shower every day as well as how they need to behave while sneezing, coughing as well as not sharing their personal items with others. Teach them that they need to wash their hands before and after eating as well as use the bathroom.
9. After-school Snacks
Some kids like to eat smaller meals more often while some like to eat bigger meals less often. Depending on how hungry they are they will need to snack so they can wait until the next meal without being super hungry. Teach them how to snack and show them different things they can eat that are healthy and satisfying.
10. The Importance of Family
There is nothing more important than your family. That is why you need to teach them that having special time such as family dinners every day is very important. That is how you will be able to reflect on their days as well as get to know each other better and make your bond stronger.
Teaching your kids things like this will help them later on in life and help them become the best versions of themselves.