5 Simple Rules for Raising Healthy Kids

Good health is just as important for kids as it is for adults. Sadly, a lot of kids today are obese or overweight not only because they develop a bad habit of binging on unhealthy snacks but because they are living a sedentary lifestyle.

Parents should begin teaching their children healthy living and healthy eating habits as early as possible. Not only will this help keep sickness and diseases at bay. It will also ensure their overall wellbeing. 

To create healthy habits early on, follow these simple rules for raising healthy kids!

Teach proper handwashing

One of the reasons why illness-causing germs are so easily passed from one person to another is because we fail to develop the habit of frequent handwashing.

Viruses and germs get into our bodies because we touch our mouth, eyes and nose. Be sure to teach your child how to keep their hands clean by frequent proper handwashing. 

When they wash their hands, emphasize the use of soap and thorough scrubbing. Also, make sure they wash for at least 20 seconds to scrub off dirt.

Instill this habit not only before and after meals but after each time they play outside, play with their toys or handle “germ reservoirs” such as door handles.

Ensure complete, balanced meals

To strengthen your child’s immune system, it’s important that they get the nutrients they need for a strong and healthy body. Make sure your child’s meals include fruits and vegetables so that they have a regular intake of essential vitamins and minerals. 

We know it’s not always easy to feed children with vegetables and fruits. Especially ones that are new and unfamiliar to them. They might reject these foods because of the unfamiliarity.

Try introducing new foods slowly. Even getting them to try only one new thing per week still means more than 50 new foods per year.

Try mixing new foods with familiar favorites or preparing them in ways you already know your kids are bound to like.

Encourage an active lifestyle

The television, video games, and the internet can eat up a huge chunk of the time your child might otherwise spend being active. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying these simple pleasures, it’s important for parents to pay close attention to how much time their children are spending on the screens. Too much screen time can be detrimental to their growth and development. 

Make it a point to replace screen time with active time. This doesn’t mean they have to do routine exercises. It can be any fun activity that involves physical movement. Some examples include biking, running around the playground, playing hopscotch, taking a walk together around the neighborhood, and a lot more!

Prioritize sleep

The importance of good quality sleep in growing kids cannot be discounted. It’s essential for their growth and development. 

Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to their overall wellbeing as it doesn’t only increase their risk of being obese or overweight but it also impacts their academic performance, mood, appetite, risk of catching illnesses, and more. 

Train your child to follow a consistent bedtime routine starting from as young an age as possible. Set a specific time when they should be in bed. If bedtime is at 8 o’clock, cut off screen time starting about an hour before.

You can help them get in the mood for sleeping by establishing routines such as reading them bedtime stories and other activities that can help them feel more relaxed and calm. 

Teach them to make healthy choices every day

While part of your primary role is to teach your kids what they should and shouldn’t do, it’s also important that you also teach them to make the right choices on their own.

This is especially important when their health and wellbeing are involved. Talk to your little one about the importance of taking good care of themselves and what that entails.

Help them develop the skills to make good and healthy choices each day. Some examples include eating healthy, handwashing, brushing teeth, and more.

Healthy kids are happy kids. Follow these simple tips to help you keep your little one as healthy and happy as they can be!

For more helpful parenting tips and guidelines, please visit Young Scholars Academy.