Raising health-conscious kids should be the first priority of every parent.
With rising obesity and increasing health issues among kids, imbibing health consciousness among kids is very important. Several studies have shown that because of unhealthy living habits, today’s kids are at a higher risk of chronic and morbid diseases.
Also because of this rising obesity kids are suffering from eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression, and other mental distress. They take on fad diets and follow unrealistic routines that affect their health in a very negative way.
In addition to this, kids are at a developing stage and it is important for them to get all the nutrients and make their bodies utilize the nutrients in the right way. This will help develop their immunity and protect them against several diseases.
In this blog, I will share 10 simple tips you must know for raising health-conscious kids.
Also Read: The Impact of Parenting on a Child’s Upbringing
10 Tips for Raising Health-Conscious Kids
Here are 10 tips that every parent must know for raising health-conscious kids
Take care of yourself first
To take care of your kids, you must first take care of yourself. You can only take good care of your kids and teach them good lessons when you take good care of yourself. Make time for your physical and mental health. It is very important for the parent to be in a healthy state to give the kids a safe and happy environment.
You can start by eating clean and being physically active. Doing yoga, meditation, and pranayama, helps protect your mental energies. Also, make sure to take some me time and go on trips and treks to exercise your mental and physical muscles.
Walk the talk!
Actions speak louder than words. If you want your kids to follow a healthy lifestyle, then you must first start by following it yourself. You cannot be just screaming at your kid for not doing the things that you never did. Research studies have found that young children learn by coping. So, make sure you are leaving in the right footsteps.
If you are slogging on a couch eating a packet of chips then don’t expect your kid to eat an apple and do yoga. They will do what they see you doing. Start eating clean, doing yoga and meditation, and exercising regularly, and soon your kid will follow suit.
Be active as a family
Active parents breed active children. When you plan family activities think about hiking, biking long walks, hopscotching, or playing a sport with them. Badminton, baseball, football, and cricket are excellent choices of sports to encourage your kids to follow an active life.
It is very important for parents and kids to bond over activities. Keep the evenings for a session of sports and the weekends for some fun activities like cycling or hiking. Once you make it a habit from a young age, you don’t have to worry about anything else.
Make your workouts fun!
If you feel that working out is a chore then your kid will also mimic the same. Make your workout sessions fun and interesting by adding music and dance. You can also try combo exercises that are taught by many fitness experts where parents and the child can work out together.
You can also go for walks together or run a race with your kid. Make sure to wake up early and give your kids the gift of early rising. This is going to be the setting foundation of success and happiness in life.
Don’t underestimate their understanding
Most of the time we underestimate our child’s understanding and we don’t give them a proper explanation. However, children are very smart and if you explain to them why they need to eat healthily and how exercise can help them; they will be more open to listening. You can also show them ‘health videos for kids’ to raise aware and conscious children.
Educate your kids about foods and their functions. Tell them how they promote immunity and help their body grow. Talking to your kids openly builds trust and confidence. They are more likely to believe you when you give them logical explanations. Studies show that children develop analytical thinking, logic, and reasoning from an early age.
Raise your kid to be a wild explorer
If you want to raise health-conscious kids then make sure to give them the liberty to be wild and free. You cannot worry about every boo-boo, every scar, and every fall, and then expect your child to be an Everest climber. Be okay with your kid getting hurt, getting bruised, breaking a bone, or falling at every step. Keep a vigilant eye but let them fly!
Tell them the benefits of healthy eating
It is very important for kids to know why eating healthy is so important. If you are asking your child to eat a carrot then make sure to tell them that carrots can help their eyes become sharper and they will fall in love with carrots. If you want your kids to eat sprouts, then tell them that sprouts can help build a strong immune system.
Be open to teaching your child about their bodies, the nutritional requirements of their body, and the need to eat healthy consistently. It is also important to tell them why it is important to avoid processed and sugary foods. Make sure to give your kid a healthy balanced diet and you might allow a few treats once a week.
Ditch the junk at the store
If you really want your kids to eat healthily then you have to ditch the junk at the store. Do not bring processed and packaged foods home. Once you make it a rule, the kids will soon follow suit. If it’s not available at hand’s reach then your kids will not binge on it.
Processed and packaged foods cause more harm than you imagine. Even carbonated beverages and packaged fruit juices are harmful to the body. They are high in sugar and calories and cause trouble for the system. If you feel that avoiding these things completely is not possible then limit them. Also, whenever you are talking about healthy eating with your child, never focus on the aspect of weight. This could lead to unhealthy eating behaviors.
Enroll your kids in sports
Active kids are healthy kids. You can enroll your kid into their favorite sport and witness them develop a completely new personality. Sports is not only about playing, but it also helps develop discipline, concentration, and focus and teaches some of the most important life skills, like teamwork. Sports also teach a kid to accept failure and never give up.
Enrolling your kid in sports like cricket, badminton, football, boxing or other outdoor sports will develop their strength, focus, agility, and concentration. This will also help your kids realize the importance of being fit and healthy.
Teach them the importance of persistence and consistency
The two most important things in life that will help your kid achieve any goal are persistence and consistency. Despite all odds, if your kid is able to give their 100 % to something then at some point in life they will achieve what they desire. In most cases, the kids as well as the parents try to follow a healthy routine for a few days and then again they go back to their usual lazy routine.
It is very important to establish a good routine if you want your kids to be health conscious. Waking up in the morning, practising meditation, and pranayama, studying, eating a healthy breakfast, going to school in a calm mind, taking proper rest, and exercising daily are some of the things that should be non-negotiable.
Raising Health-Conscious Kids – Your Takeaway!
Raising kids is a tough job and raising them right is even tougher. It takes more than just feeding, nourishing, and bathing them. You have to be the friendly parent who plays with the kid and the strict parent who puts them to sleep on time. You have to make learning fun and sports, a lesson.
One thing that’s vital is to promote a healthy mindset in your kids from a very young age. Protect their mental and physical health by talking to them, being there for them, and leading the way for them!
