4 Steps To Keep Your Kids Healthy
Children pick up germs everywhere, especially when they start school. Kids can pass bacteria and illnesses back and forth, often bringing them home to your family. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your kids happy and healthy. Here are some things you can do to ensure your children stay in good mental and physical condition.
- Provide a Balanced Diet
By giving your kids healthy meals regularly, they'll learn what they should eat, which will help them maintain these habits as adults. A proper meal consists of filling half of a plate with fruits and vegetables and half with protein and whole grains.
Eating the same foods gets boring, so make sure you're adding plenty of variety. Keep in mind that potatoes and other starchy vegetables shouldn't become a daily part of your children's diet since these foods can cause blood sugar spikes. Invite your kids to be part of the meal prep and the food decision-making process, as they'll feel accomplished and be more apt to eat the healthier options.
Some kids are picky eaters, even if you switch up their foods. To ensure they get the nutrition they need, you may want to consider adding supplements, such as vitamin D gummies. This supplement comes in handy, particularly if any of your kids are lactose intolerant.
- Develop a Sleeping Schedule
Getting adequate sleep is vital for everyone, but it's even more important for children. In fact, kids who get the rest they need are able to learn, remember and pay attention better. Sleeping also allows your kids' bodies to fight off and recover from illnesses. Not getting the rest they need can cause high blood pressure and obesity.
Younger children should get more sleep than older kids. For example, infants under age one should get up to 16 hours, whereas teenagers only need eight to 10 hours.
To ensure your kids get the rest they require, you should establish a consistent routine that allows your kids to go to sleep at the same time daily. Starting a winding down process an hour or two before bed can help your kids get ready to go to sleep. These activities may include cutting out caffeine, taking a bath, reading a book and discontinuing the use of electronics.
- Teach Proper Hygiene
To prevent the spread of germs, you should teach your kids how to wash their hands properly. The entire process should take 20 seconds, so have your kids count down while scrubbing. Additionally, they should know when to wash, including after coughing, sneezing or blowing their noses.
When your kids are old enough to wash their hands on their own, you may want to monitor their process for a while to ensure they're doing it correctly. This time will allow you to offer tips and improvements so you won't have to worry about them independently tackling this task.
Also, don't forget to teach them how to properly brush and floss their teeth. You will need to do the flossing for them in the first few years, but once they reach the ages between 8 and 10, they may start doing it by themselves. If you need further advice on how your kids can take care of their teeth, you can check out this dentist in Ballantyne now.
- Encourage Exercise
It would help if you attempted to get your kids involved in physical activity starting at an early age. Younger children are often active through imaginative play, which allows them to develop physical skills, such as jumping and throwing. Once they find what they love and are talented in, school-aged kids often get involved in sports.
While most children enjoy staying active, others play video games or watch TV. This lack of movement can cause significant health issues, including diabetes, obesity, depression and decreased academic performance.
As a parent, you play a key role in convincing your children to exercise. A great way to get them interested is by making fitness fun. Get the entire family involved and play a game or go for a walk together. If your children realize they're having a good time, they're likely to start including physical activity in their daily routine.
Conclusion
Keeping your kids healthy ensures they'll put their wellness first when they become adults. The first step is teaching them the right skills so they can pass them on to their children someday.
