Five Good Habits to Pass On To Your Kids

A big part of being fit and healthy is common sense. We all know the basics, but we don’t always follow the advice. Establishing healthy habits at an early age can help throughout our lives. Therefore, it is important to pass these routines onto our kids.

Regular Eye and Dental Check-Ups

Visiting the optometrist and dentist allows for early detection and correction of any problems. Establishing regular appointments will help dispel any fears in young children. Any issues that exist can be dealt with swiftly and in many cases, corrected before adulthood.

If necessary, children can be fitted with glasses. Older children and adolescents may opt for contact lenses. Lenses can now be used for a number of issues. For example, it is possible to obtain lenses for astigmatism.

Oral Hygiene

Good dental care should begin before your baby’s first teeth appear. Running a damp cloth over your child’s gums will help remove any harmful bacteria. As soon as your baby’s teeth appear you should begin brushing with an infant toothbrush. Click here for more dental hygiene tips for your kids.

When your children are old enough to clean their own teeth, they should be encouraged to do so. Up to the age of six children should be supervised.

Healthy Eating

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is important for everyone. It is even more important for kids who are still growing and developing. Healthy eating patterns that are encouraged through to adulthood reduce the risk of many illnesses.  This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes and other conditions. For more information on healthy eating for kids, click here.

Exercise

Exercise is often something that children do naturally. They often like to run around and play. But as they get a little older hobbies sometimes change. We’re all aware of reports in the media about children being exposed to too much screen time. Setting clear boundaries is part of the solution. The other part is to encourage children to try new hobbies and activities. They are far more likely to stick to exercise plans if they are doing something they enjoy.

Problem Solving

We all hope that our children are equipped to take responsibility for themselves and deal with problems once they reach adulthood. Encouraging problem-solving at a young age can foster this. If your child tells you she can’t find her pink socks, don’t immediately jump up and find them for her. Instead, ask her where they might be. Ask her where she has looked already and if there is anywhere else they could be. If this doesn’t work, then try rephrasing the questions. Ask where she thinks you should look. If the pink socks can’t be found, ask her what else she could do.

Encouraging children to think for themselves will help them to process problems in a different way. These skills will develop over time and will support them throughout their lives.

There are lots of ways we can support our children and help them to grow and develop into happy and healthy adults. Establishing habits and routines are important. Something that becomes a way of life is much easier to maintain. The earlier you start, the better. What is also important is that you model these behaviors. Telling your child to act or behave in a certain way isn’t enough. They need to see you practice this for it to be effective.