It’s never too early to help your kids learn to live a healthy lifestyle. In fact, the sooner you start getting serious about their diet and fitness, the better. If your children spend too much time playing video games or eating sugary snacks, it will be much harder for them to unlearn that behavior when they’re on their own. This can lead to problems later in life, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Rather than letting them learn these lessons the hard way as young adults, parents need to take charge now. This means encouraging good choices and giving their kids lots of opportunities to make them.
For instance, you can get your kids up and moving by signing them up for organized sports. It’s a great way for them to make friends and learn cooperation while also getting a healthy dose of exercise. Providing them with plenty of time for unstructured play is another good way to encourage activity. You also have the power to limit the amount of screen time they’re allowed. Using the parental controls on your TVs, computers and Wi-Fi can be an effective method of getting your kids off the couch. Finally, you can promote healthful eating by packing your kids lunches that feature fresh fruit and veggies instead of chips and cookies.
As parents, it’s our responsibility to do what’s right for our children in every aspect of their lives. For more tips about establishing a healthier balance in their daily routines, check out the infographic below.
