“One of the ways children learn is to observe, imitate and model the behavior of those around them. If you are a polite, caring person, always friendly, lead a healthy lifestyle, then the child will copy everything. Are you rude, always criticizing everyone, have bad habits? There is a chance your toddler will learn to do the same, ”says Geraldine Walford, consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry.
So what to teach children to be happy and healthy? Here is a list of 12 good habits to instill in your child.
Adult food, and especially healthy food, such as steamed cutlets, is not of interest to children. But if you can somehow cope with meat, then the kids, as a rule, completely ignore the fish. Research shows that a diet rich in omega-3s can improve the cognitive performance of children both in and out of school. What is our main source of omega-3? Fish! Here you need to add it to your diet and to your child.
The healthiest representatives of the aquatic environment are tuna, trout, sardines, mackerel and herring. Ideally, they should be on the menu two to three times a week. So that your daughters and sons are interested in such an adult product, serve it creatively, tell a fairy tale, decorate the dish brightly so that the child wants to try it.
We all know how important sleep is in our life: when we sleep, the body gets rid of toxins and restores strength. It is fundamental to the growth of children; sleep is vital for brain development and mental health. In addition, the sleep of the whole family depends on how the child sleeps. This is why it is so important to stay on schedule.
Babies should always go to bed and get up at the same time. Create special rituals for falling asleep and waking up. For example, read fairy tales or sing lullabies at night, and wake the children up in the morning with the aromas of a delicious breakfast.
A child at such an age when he cannot tear himself away from gadgets? Be sure to make sure that all phones and tablets are turned off and that the baby does not take them to bed with him. In a company with electronics, it will be more difficult for him to fall asleep.
According to researchers from Loughborough University, 91% of children aged 2 to 4 years do not follow activity guidelines. Children must be on the move for at least three hours a day. Shocking data suggests that most preschoolers don’t even spend an hour actively! Which, of course, affects their physical and mental health.
Make it a habit to take your child outside and play sports or at least just walk in good weather. What to do when it’s cold and damp? Come up with an active hobby for the kid. It can be swimming or visiting any other sports section.
Another option for an interesting pastime on the street is gardening. What child doesn’t like getting dirty from the heart? Give the children soil and seeds of unpretentious garden crops, such as peas, parsley, dill, and they will happily fiddle with shovels and buckets for hours! And when the kids see that the seeds they have planted have turned into real plants, they will be doubly imbued with passion and will not want to sit within four walls.
Pediatricians sound the alarm: many children suffer from dehydration, which leads to fatigue, poor concentration, irritability and headaches. Yes, you can’t push water into a child if he doesn’t want to drink, but there is a way out. Eliminate sugary sodas and sugary fruit juices from the menu. Instead of this always keep a jug of plain water on the tableso that the children drink it during lunch.
A rare child, choosing between chips and an apple, will give preference to fruit. Make your kids’ snacks healthy… To begin with, it is worth expelling deposits of chips, biscuits and sweets from the house. And always have healthy snacks ready. Cut fruit and vegetables figuratively. Let the apple mugs look like thin chips and the carrots are cut into sticks. Keep a dish with such snacks in the refrigerator so that the child can open the refrigerator when he gets hungry and pick up the desired fruit or vegetable.
This rule is as old as the world, but still hand washing is the best way to avoid the spread of germs and keep children from getting sick. It is this simple principle of hygiene that will protect the whole family from the spread of many diseases – from the common cold to more serious infections such as meningitis, bronchitis, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea. Use your example to teach your child the habit of washing hands and brushing teeth. Buy beautiful soap, paste with unusual taste and color, and hygiene will turn into a fun experience.
Breakfast is an extremely important meal of the day, not only for adults but also for babies. Research shows that children who eat breakfast perform twice as well on lessons, tests, and tests, and score better than those who go to school on an empty stomach. In addition, a child who has not eaten in the morning will be lethargic during the day, and when he urgently needs to replenish his reserves of energy, he will do it by snacking on chocolate bars, which is not at all healthy.
Dinner is not just a meal, but an important social aspect of family life. Children should get used to the fact that at a certain evening time they, their mom, dad, grandparents, all sit down at the table and have dinner, talk, share their impressions of the day. It not only brings you closer but also helps relieve stress. Another plus of full-fledged family dinners is that this way the children will eat healthy food with you and not overdo it with portions. A child sitting down to have a snack in front of the TV will definitely eat more than they should, and the role of food is likely to be chips and sweets. To make it interesting for the baby to gather at the table with the whole family, involve him in the process of preparing dishes, or at least in their choice. Let him feel involved in the action and be happy when everyone tastes the salad he has prepared.
Watching TV for too long or sitting in front of the computer playing a game can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and overeating, which increases the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Set clear time frames for such leisure activities. For example, an hour of watching TV after dinner or a child doing their homework. Agree on a time when each family member turns off their gadgets, puts them on charge and no longer touches them during the day.
Helping others makes us feel happy and boosts our self-esteem. This is necessary not only for adults, but also for children. Show them that giving, choosing, or wrapping gifts in pretty paper is fun. Participate in charity activities with your children, such as baking pies or bringing old items to sales so that the little ones can see that sharing something of their own with others is fun.
Children should have time for unplanned fun and exploration. It helps to develop creativity and connect with other people and the world around you. Quite often, kids’ schedules are as tightly scheduled as adults: school, extra lessons, sections, homework. This rhythm of life leaves too little room for spontaneity. Yes, it’s great that after school the child learns to play the violin, but he should have time to just tinker in the sandbox, watch a family comedy with his parents, or just fool around at home.
Worrying about things and learning to deal with those stresses is a normal part of growing up. The best way to help your child overcome a problem is to have a friendly conversation. If your toddler looks anxious, be sure to take the time to chat with him. Remember, children do not know how to express their feelings as clearly as adults. Sometimes it is difficult for them to open up and explain what worries them. Try to play with your child or do some creative work together – play, draw, and chat in the process. Ask questions carefully, and in a few minutes the child will tell you what worries him. It is very important to instill in children the habit of understanding and understanding what they are feeling, so that children understand what feelings and emotions are.