Top Ten Ways to Help Children Develop Healthy Habits
by Jayme Peterson - District Nurse
January 20, 2006
1-Be a positive role model. If you practice healthy habits, it's a lot easier to get children to do the same.
2-Get the whole family active. Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Everyone will benefit from exercise and time together.
3-Limit TV, video game and computer time. These lead to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking, which increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
4-Encourage physical activities that children really enjoy. Every child is unique. Find activities that he or she really loves doing. They'll stick with it longer if they love it.
5-Be supportive. Focus on the positive; praise a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a good self-image.
6-Set specific goals and limits, such as one hour of exercise a day or two sugar desserts per week. Goals that are too abstract or limits too restrictive limit the chance for success.
7-Don't reward children with candy and snacks; it encourages bad habits. Find other rewards.
8-Make a game of reading food labels. The whole family will learn what's good for health and be more conscious of what they eat.
9-Make dinnertime a family time. When everyone sits down together to eat, there's less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much.
10-Stay involved. Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure healthcare providers monitor cardiovascular indicators like blood pressure and cholesterol.
You can get more tips from the American Heart Association @ http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030485