With the increase of childhood obesity, it has become even more important to be aware of and practice good health strategies for children. From eating properly to exercising enough and limiting technology exposure, kids can stay healthy, happy and make the most of their childhood without setting themselves up to develop diseases later in life.
Feed Them Well
Feed your children a variety of foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. KidsHealth.org and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend providing your kids with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day: three vegetables and two fruits. USDA additionally reports that fruits and vegetables can help reduce your childrens’ risk of developing stroke, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, kidney stones, bone loss, high blood pressure and different types of cancer. Make sure to give your children healthy snacks as well, including raw vegetables, like baby carrots and whole grain crackers. Do not give them too many sugary drinks or snacks like cookies, chocolates and other kinds of candies.
Encourage Them To Be Active
Parents should encourage their children to be active by cheering them on to try different activities like karate, swimming, dancing, baseball, soccer, yoga, gymnastics and tennis. Once your children have tried out a wide variety of activities, make sure to encourage them to do what they most enjoy. On warm days, have your children play outside in your backyard if you have one, or swim in the community pool if your apartment complex has one. Go for hikes in nature with your children to encourage them to be active. Getting the whole family involved can also help you set a good example for your children by showing them that you are active as well.
Limit Technology Exposure
KidsHealth.org recommends that parents cut down on the amount of time they allow their children to spend “on screen.” This means parents should not let their children spend as much time watching DVDs or television, playing video games or using computers as your children might like. KidsHealth.org instead suggests giving your children no more than 2 hours of screen time each day, not taking into account the amount of time your children genuinely need to use the computer for school-related purposes like research for homework assignments. Limiting technology exposure encourages your children to be more imaginative with how they spend their time, naturally causes them to spend more time doing active things like playing outside and riding their bikes, and helps them to be creative by engaging in arts and crafts.
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