educational resources for home-schooling

Early Start: How To Instill Healthy Habits In Young Children

26 December 2019

Sean Fields

One of the most important things you can instill in your young child is habits that will set the precedent for a healthy lifestyle. It's never too early to start teaching your child how to eat healthy, get adequate exercise, and reduce stress. Healthy habits that are started when children are young become a way of life and make it easier for your child to make healthy choices in the future.

Set an example

Children learn by example. If they see you eating a diet that consists of sugary soft drinks, fried foods, and snack items, they may develop unhealthy eating habits that can make it difficult to transition to a healthier diet later in life. Being mindful of your own diet is the first step in promoting good nutrition for your child.

Does your child see exercise as an important part of your day? Have you implemented healthy ways to deal with stress in your life, such as meditation or taking a break to relax? The healthy habits you partake of can have a huge influence on your child.

Get them involved

Children enjoy taking part in family activities around the home. Allow your child to help choose nutritional meals to prepare for the week. Let them accompany you to the grocery store to purchase healthy items to make meals.

Involve them in meal preparation according to their age. For instance, a small child can help wash produce and dump ingredients into a pan. Older children can help cut up vegetables and get involved in the cooking process.

Plan family outings that involve physical activity, such as walking, hiking, or going swimming. Plan afternoons to simply relax, shut off all technology, and watch a movie together to reduce stress.

Use books as teaching tools

Books with a focus on health can be great teaching tools for children of all ages. Look for healthy eating habit books for kids and read them on a consistent basis with your child. Books that contain healthy, kid-friendly recipes will give your child an opportunity to try new foods and take an active role in family meal planning.

Discuss what you are learning in the books you read with your child. To add some fun to the learning experience, have your child quiz you on the healthy eating habits you learned in the book.

Instilling healthy habits in your child is a gift you can give them that will keep on giving throughout their life. Teaching your child how to eat healthy, exercise, and reduce stress isn't difficult and is important for preventing the development of future health issues. For more information on how to teach healthy habits to your children, reach out to experts like Candice Imwalle.

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