Help Your Children Develop Healthy Habits With These Tips!

There’s no better time than now to make a healthy lifestyle a regular part of your child’s life. Here are a few tips to help create habits that will contribute to maximum wellness for the whole family!

Be a good role model: Children spend a great deal of time observing their parents, which subconsciously effects their actions and choices in life. You don’t have to be perfect all the time, but the healthier choices you make, the better! Your actions speak louder than words – In fact, a recent study found that young children’s food tastes are significantly related to foods that their mothers liked and disliked. Letting your child see you order a fresh salad rather a burger and fries at the drive-through may encourage her to do the same.

Stay positive: It’s important to celebrate success and help kids develop confidence and a good self-image. On the flip side, things don’t always go as planned, and how you react to this is key in how they proceed. If you set a goal together and your child slips up, it’s important to help them brush it off and keep on moving forward with a positive attitude!

Incorporate the whole family: Regularly planning activities together is a great way to build teamwork and a supportive system. Together you can take walks, go hiking, enjoy a bike ride, plant a garden, or cook a meal as a family. Everyone will benefit from working together to make positive health changes within the family.

Choose activities wisely: Let your child try out different activities until they find something they really love doing. Every child is unique. Their interests can range greatly. Registering your child to a health-focused program like the Garden State Community Kitchen Summer Program is a great way to explore wellness in an informative but fun way. Not only do the children learn how to garden and cook, but they also do science experiments together, visit a farm, and learn much more about healthy living. This could be the perfect opportunity for them to explore many activities that will teach them lots of healthy habits in the process! Learn more at: http://sandhillswellness.wixsite.com/sandhillswellness/gsck-2017-summer-program/.

Limit tech-time: We live in a technology driven world, but it’s important to unplug the kids, live in the moment, and enjoy time spent outdoors together. Not to mention, too much screen time often leads to excessive snacking, which increases risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease. Limit computers, phones and TVs as much as possible!

Be realistic: Whether you are transitioning the family to a healthier diet or wanting to be more active together, it’s essential to make realistic goals. You want to set the family up for success when adopting a new behavior. Small steps and gradual changes make a big difference in your health over time.

Pick healthy rewards: It’s only natural to want to reward your child with extra video game time, candy, or another guilty pleasure for a job well done; however this is not contributing to their overall wellness. Instead, find other ways to celebrate good behavior, like a trip to the park or a play date with a favorite friend.

Dinnertime is family time: Keeping everyone on a routine schedule so that dinner can be enjoyed together helps lessen the chance of eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. It’s a smart idea to get your children involved in meal prep and cooking too. On Friday, September 22nd, Suppers Program will be at Sand Hills Community Wellness Center with an evening focused on: Healthy Foods For Kids. The community will come together to cook and then share a delicious and nutritious meal together. This is a great opportunity to bring the kids and start your healthy journey with us! Learn more and register at: http://sandhillswellness.wixsite.com/sandhillswellness/suppers/.