Ensuring your child’s overall well-being requires proactive measures, and you play a crucial role as a parent. It’s never too early to instill good habits in your kids to set them on a good path to excellent health. Although 40% of school-aged children have some form of chronic ailment, much can be done to help them lead healthy lifestyles. Below are three habits that influence your child’s future health.
- Healthy eating choices
Good nutrition is the foundation for excellent health, especially among children. Their young bodies still develop and require nutrients to grow stronger and healthier. Children are more susceptible to infections because their immune system is still developing and is yet to build resistance against many microorganisms. Fortunately, a balanced diet comprising fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins can help your little one. The trick is to ensure that everything they eat can be found in each food group.
Children who grasp healthy eating concepts early in life can choose food wisely. Admittedly, this can be challenging because many kids are picky eaters. However, there is a way around this without stressing so much. Start by making mealtimes fun and delightful. Involve them in meal preparation, no matter how insignificant the task. The aim is to actively engage your child in these activities to make them feel a part of the final product – cooked food.
- Keep an eye on their physical health
Physical health involves many things; for a growing child, you can’t afford to overlook the crucial measures needed to ensure that. Physical activity is a critical part of a child’s health, and especially when excessive weight gain is an issue, you must be mindful of it. Physical activity ensures that your child’s body efficiently uses the foods consumed. That way, the chances of stored body fat contributing to excessive weight gain can be eliminated. Although genetics significantly influences body weight, your child’s numbers should be healthy for their age.
While monitoring your children’s physical health, it’s worth noting that their oral health also contributes to their physical well-being. Cavities, plaque, and decayed teeth can negatively impact your child’s health. These oral conditions are associated with harmful bacteria that remain in the mouth without treatment. The more you overlook them, the higher the chances of affecting your child’s physical health. Moreover, something as common as oral retainers can impact your youngster’s health when left unclean. Fortunately, you can avoid these with positive countermeasures to boost your child’s physical health.
- Adequate sleep
Quality sleep is fundamental to your child’s physical and mental development. During deep sleep, the brain compartmentalizes memory, a crucial function in your child’s educational life. Remember to establish a consistent bedtime routine for your children, especially because they need 8 – 9 hours of quality sleep. Children who benefit from more quality sleep are calmer and more manageable. They are also more likely to appreciate the benefits of regular quality sleep when they are older. More importantly, you would have inadvertently taught your child a crucial coping mechanism when they feel stressed: getting a good night’s sleep.
