A healthy family offers support and love to one another. According to Healthy Children, a healthy family is important for the physical and emotional health of each family member. A family that incorporates a variety of health-promoting activities into its everyday life will contribute to a sense of security for each person. Individuals who feel respected and important will continue to contribute to a well-functioning family that enjoys spending time with each other.
Step 1
Spend time together. Think of entertaining ways to spend family time. Check out a local art or museum exhibit, play a sport or take a day trip to explore the area where you live. Carve out time to relax together by watching a movie, taking an after dinner stroll or playing a board game. Make sure each member of the family is included and that each person gets a chance to choose a family activity.
Step 2
Encourage one another. Attend each person's sporting events, dance recitals and musical performances. Build each other up by offering praise when one member is successful and empathy when a member of the family falls short of his goals.
Step 3
Outline family rules and post them prominently in your home. Spell out what the expectations of each family member are as well as the consequences for failing to meet those expectations. Hold one another accountable by calling each other on failures and praising successes.
Step 4
Create household routines. Decide what each member needs to do each day to prepare for school, work and extra-curricular activities. Divide up chores and assign each family member specific tasks to complete each day. Plan on bedtimes for each child and develop a routine that gets each child ready on time. A bath or shower and a bedtime story can help signal that bedtime is approaching and provides quality time to spend together.
Step 5
Focus on living a healthy lifestyle. Eat nutritious foods and get plenty of exercise so each member of the family feels well enough to be a participating member of the household. Restrict how much soda and sugary treats your family consumes as well. Limit how much time your family spends watching television, playing video games and using the computer, recommends Kids Health.
Tips and Warnings
- Sit down as a family and have a meeting to plan ways to become a healthier family. Get each person's commitment to work toward respecting and loving one another so time spent together can be enjoyable and health promoting. Allow each person to propose ideas. Cook nutritious meals and exercise together to show the importance of living a healthy life.
- If your family struggles to get along or there is a great deal of tension or stress in your home, seek outside help. Look for a family counselor who can give you strategies to make your family healthier.
