One of the biggest mountains we face as parents are trying to communicate the value of health to our kids. They are so young and therefore, this doesn’t factor into their decisions, which seems perfectly fair. However, we all know that poor health choices can have an impact on us in many ways, not just in terms of our physical health, but our mental health. What can we do to ensure that our children understand how they can prevent health problems?
Regular Check-Ups
Ensuring that your child goes to the dentist and undergoes dental cleaning and regular medical appointments is the best preventative approach. Regular check-ups should be part and parcel of our children’s lives, as this can help them to recognize that their health is the most important thing.
Showing the Impact of Obesity
We don’t want to scare our children into being healthy because we want our children to have a healthy relationship with diet and exercise, but we also need to present what would happen if they didn’t look after their health. The sheer volume of children struggling with obesity is enough to cause concern for any parent, but it’s also about highlighting what obesity does. For example, it can increase the risk of certain diseases, it can have adverse health impacts, and it’s a slippery slope to an unhealthy and sedentary existence.
Having a Diverse Range of Choices at the Dinner Table
For many parents, we believe that the key to healthy children is the food they consume. This is correct to an extent, and ensuring that our children understand what good food choices do for them will invariably filter through into the choices they make so that they feel better in themselves. Some children only want to eat candy. The problem is that there are many negative health impacts of consuming too much candy, for example, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Ensuring We Start It Now
One of the biggest oversights parents have is thinking that because their children are young they’ve got plenty of time to turn it around. The problem in thinking like this is that children will start as they mean to go on, and this means that it could be decades until they realize that they’ve got to eat healthier. Setting an example is the most important lesson of all. Giving our children a variety of options when it comes to healthy foods, but also making sure we understand what eating enough protein can do or the positive impacts of eating the right fats can make a difference. The problem we’ve all got is that the internet provides a variety of options or touts their approach as the best one. This is why you’ve got to start understanding what it takes for you to be the best version of yourself as well.
When you were pregnant, no doubt you prioritized your health because it had a direct impact on your child, but now your children are in the big wide world you must recognize the importance of preventative health to ensure a long life.