In the world, if not the world, being a parent is one of the most
difficult jobs. There are numerous explanations for this, including
occasionally doing twice as much laundry as usual (or more).
The more serious aspect of what makes parenting so challenging is the
duty of balancing a fast-paced, insanely busy life with running a happy,
healthy home.
It's extremely difficult to be "healthy" in and of itself.
Adults who are aware of the long-term advantages of leading a healthy lifestyle
find it challenging enough. It's not easy to convince your children to make
healthy choices, either. It may feel nearly impossible to complete it without
disagreements or complaints.
Discipline and self-control are needed to engage in behaviors that are
good for our physical and mental health. And a child is still frequently
honed and developing these skills.
The best thing a parent can do is set a positive example for the healthy
behaviors you want your children to imitate. Your child is watching, so it's
crucial for you to set the example yourself of what a healthy lifestyle
should look like.
Here are 10 Guidelines for Managing a Healthy Home
1. Get active
Exercise improves overall health by promoting healthy heart function,
mood improvement, and the development of strong muscles and bones.
"According to current recommendations, kids and teenagers should engage in
at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Here are some ideas for incorporating lots of physical activity,
depending on your child's age:
• Promote involvement in P.E. classes and breaks.
• Propose sports or hobbies that require physical activity, such as
gardening, swimming, biking, rollerblading, or jumping rope.
• Go to your neighborhood park or play area (games like hopscotch, the
jungle gym, and other activities are excellent for building strong bones and
muscles).
• Participate in organized sports or activities like ballet, baseball,
softball, soccer, basketball, martial arts, or dance.
• Take family walks.
It shouldn't be the main priority to encourage kids to be active. The recommended weekly amount for adults is
150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, or just under 25 minutes per day.
2. Make Healthy Food a Priority
Research indicates that a parent's nutritional practices influence a
child's future eating behavior and food choices.". It's crucial for
parents to model for their children a healthy diet both at home and when dining
out.
Following are the top five rules for eating well:
• Consume meals that are well-balanced and rich in fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds.
• Whenever possible, opt for whole foods, which are frequently the items
in the grocery store's outer perimeter or those that underwent only minor
processing before packaging.
• Refrain from using unhealthy cooking and flavoring methods, such as
frying or adding extra cheese or butter.
• Provide appropriate serving sizes.
These can vary depending on age and other factors, so think about using
the My Plate Plan as a reference.
• Keep nutritious snacks like fruit, peanut butter and celery sticks,
carrots and hummus, low-fat yogurt with fruit on top, and peanut butter on
whole grain crackers readily available.
3. Reduce your Intake of Processed Foods
While no food should be entirely forbidden, processed foods shouldn't
make up the majority of your child's diet. (That is advice that adults should
heed as well, given that the NIH estimates that nearly 60% of the calories
consumed by the average American come from processed foods.
Processed foods frequently have a lot of additives like salt, saturated
fats, added sugar, and trans fats. "These should be limited because they
may be unhealthy for your child's health.
The majority of calories in processed foods are frequently "empty
calories," meaning that they provide only temporary energy and no real
nutritional value.
Furthermore, because they frequently contain a lot of calories, they may
cause weight gain.
Limit your consumption of processed foods like:
• Lemonade, sweet tea, sports drinks, and soft drinks.
• Junk food, fast food, and frozen meals.
• Sweet or sour chews, chocolate bars, and other candies, such as hard
candies.
• Baked goods in packaging, including cakes, cookies, and donuts.
When selecting foods for your children, Dr. Laceras advises always
reading nutrition labels.
"While you might think that granola bars and trail mix for on-the-go
are healthy snack options, these can occasionally be loaded with extra sugar
and other refined ingredients.
4. Encourage Regular Sleep Schedules and Healthy Sleeping Practices
Children require more sleep than adults do, according to Dr. Dot Laceras.
Sleep is crucial for maintaining good health. Children, depending on their age,
require 10 hours or more of sleep per night compared to adults, who only need
about eight.
Children need to get quality sleep in addition to getting enough of it.
To ensure that your children get the most out of their sleep, consider
the following sleep hygiene advice:
Establish a schedule and be aware of how much sleep your child requires.
• Even on weekends, set a regular bedtime.
• Create a sleep-friendly environment by keeping the room cool, dark,
quiet, and device-free.
• A half-hour before bedtime, turn off all electronics and TVs.
• Try a relaxing routine, like reading or taking a warm bath before bed.
keeping electronics out of bedrooms at bedtime can be a particularly
important rule to put in place. The results of studies indicate that children
who have their phones in their rooms sleep less on average, sometimes by an
hour each night.
5. Limit the Amount of Time you Spend Using your Device
Speaking of smartphones, there are advantages to using them for family
communication as well as disadvantages. According
to Dr. Laceras, it's important to think about how, when, and how frequently
your child uses their device. Every parent will have their own set of
guidelines, but as a general rule, kids should only have two hours of screen
time per day, and that time should only come after they have finished their
chores and homework.
6. Stress the Value of Healthy Fundamentals
Help your children understand the value of healthy habits, such as
fastening their seatbelts when they enter a vehicle. among the top behaviors to
cultivate are.
• Hand washing.
• Good oral hygiene.
• Whenever you are outside, use sunscreen.
• Staying hydrated all day.
• Taking precautions to stay safe while outdoors in the heat.
7. Encourage Open Dialogue
Although the specifics may vary, children experience stress just like
adults.
Remind your child that they can always talk to you about how they're
feeling or anything that might be bothering them. Maintain an open line of
communication with them.
A strong relationship of support and trust between you and your children
can be developed by setting aside quality time for the family to spend
together, advises Dr. Laceras "While each child is unique, this can
encourage your child to talk to you about issues rather than harboring bad
feelings and thoughts inside and allowing them to fester".
8. Be Aware of the Symptoms of Mental Illness
It's crucial for parents to understand what anxiety or depression in a
child might look like because, according to the CDC, more than one-third of
high school students say they have experienced poor mental health recently.
The following are red flags that your child may be having mental health
issues.
• Insufficient motivation.
• Physical exhaustion.
• Irritation.
• Unusual emotional states.
• An increased capacity for criticism.
• Breaking social bonds.
• Disliking things they undoubtedly find enjoyable.
Parents of teenagers and older children will be familiar with some of
these, but if you notice several of them at once and they continue, think about
talking to your child or seeking assistance.
A family physician, there are resources available to support your child's
mental health. He or she can also put you in touch with a mental health
professional.
9. Don't Forget to Socialize
Community is so important in a child's development. In addition to
fostering communication and teamwork abilities, socialization is crucial for
fostering self-worth, defining identity, and fostering a sense of security. Even
though your child may prefer it, socializing with friends or peers shouldn't
always take place on a smartphone. Make
sure to remind them to put their phones away and schedule time for face-to-face
interaction.
10. Maintain a Current Schedule for Physicals and Shots
Make time for annual medical appointments, but don't forget to do so, Dr.
Dot Laceras emphasizes.
Maintaining good health entails setting health goals with your family
physician and checking in frequently to make sure your child's health is
progressing as it should. If you're scheduling regular checkups, your doctor
will inform you when your child may require particular immunizations or other
health examinations.
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