Every one of us has some bad habits that we would rather not. In fact, you may have experienced how difficult those habits can be to get away from and this can be the case because they have been ingrained in us since childhood. Rather than letting your kids pick up bad habits that they would rather get rid of, here are a few healthier habits that you can ingrain into them while they’re still young.
Get up and get moving
Exercise is one of the most difficult habits for even adults to pick up, themselves when they’re not accustomed to it. Getting the motivation and getting used to being more active can be quite the hurdle. Your kids are likely to already be quite active, with playtime doing a lot to keep them moving for the first few years. However, as they get older, if they’re not getting into sports teams, then it’s a good idea to find ways to be active together. Whether it’s with bike rides, walks, or anything else, your kids are a lot more to keep up if you’re there taking part with them.
Taking care of their teeth
The impact that dental neglect can have on a child’s self-esteem and confidence in the future can be devastating. Your child isn’t to blame if this happens, it’s usually due to a poor enforcement of dental hygiene habits as a child. Make sure that you visit the dentist with them early and often, taking care of their teeth and getting all of the oral care advice that you need. If they get into the routine of brushing, and then later flossing and rinsing once they have their adult teeth, it’s not a habit that they’re likely to lose as they get older. If they don’t get that habit early, they might not get it at all.
Making good eating choices
A lot of parents feed their kids all manner of unhealthy snacks, like candy, soda, chips, and more, that are going to do very little to give their body the nutrients it needs. It’s easy to use snacks as a reward or a way to placate them. However, these can soon become everyday parts of their lifestyle. You should start making efforts to direct the family’s diet in a healthier direction. Employ some helpful tricks such as offering choices of healthy foods and finding vegetable alternatives to ensure they’re eating better.
Recognizing risks
Children do not have the same sense of risk or danger that adults have. In a lot of cases, they may not truly get the consequences of certain health risks until they experience them. However, while trying not to give them a fearful disposition, you should try to teach them to recognize and avoid potentially harmful things. There are plenty of good kids’ books about these.
If you can turn good health practices into learned behaviors for your kids, they’re a lot more likely to stick with them as they go through life. Keep that in mind with the tips above.