How to Teach Kids Healthy Habits

With childhood obesity at dangerous levels, parents need to find creative ways to help their children make healthy choices that will not only keep them healthy now, but can last a lifetime.

Set the right example. Children are like clay in a potter’s hands. Parents need to take their role as a metaphorical potter seriously and mold their children into the person they can be. Parents are role models to their children for any number of reasons, not the least of which is healthy habits. Our impressionable children take notice of what we do, and will often emulate it. If you provide healthy foods, they will obviously eat better because you are their provider. But it’s also more likely to impress upon them healthy habits that will last into adulthood.

Make exercise a family habit. Another way you can set the right example for your children is by exercising. But it’s more than just setting the right example, you should do physical activities together. That not only takes advantage of the role model aspect of impressing healthy habits upon them, they will also associate positive familial memories with physical activity.

You don’t have to make it formal exercise, though that is perfectly fine. Play hide-and-seek, or a game of tag, or swimming. Kids like to feel they are being listened to and that their views are being validate, so let them occasionally make suggestions for what activities you do.

Make dinner a fun family event. More and more, we are eating on the run or separately. Try to make dinner a time to connect with each other. Not only does it make dinner a more positive experience, you can also make sure they are getting a complete and nutritious meal.

Regulate video game time. Studies have shown the dangers of the couch potato lifestyle. While moderate video game use is likely perfectly healthy, setting rules for how long your children can play them will ensure they take part in other necessary

Mix and match colorful foods. Bright colors can help make healthy foods more attractive to kids. Not to mention, if you’re picking foods to vary color, you’re also likely ensuring that your child is getting balanced nutrition.

Focus on the pros more than the cons. Children respond much more favorably to positives than the negatives. In other words, focus less on what they can’t eat or do and more and what they should eat and do, and why.