As a parent, ensuring your kids’needs are taken care of is the highest priority, especially when it comes to their health and happiness. As you are fully aware, being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, so you should never beat yourself up about the decisions you have made and your style of parenting as everyone has a different approach in the interests of their child. It is simply a learning curve when it comes to understanding how best to keep your child healthy and happy. If you require some advice, we’re going to list some of the best tips on how to raise happy and healthy kids:
· Get them outdoors
Everyone needs exercise – but it’s even more important for children to get outdoors and let off a bit of steam. Failing to stay active is one of the main causes of childhood obesity which can lead to severe health issues as they get older. However, it’s easier said than done to encourage them to take a break from their technological devices and play outside. With this in mind, you should take some time out of your hectic schedule to get active with your kids and enjoy some family games. It’s all about making the experience as fun as possible.
You could even encouragethem to join extracurricular sports clubs at school. The fresh air, exercise, and vitamin D from the sun is a crucial combination for boosting health and wellbeing.
· Ensure they’re getting enough sleep
It’s no secret that most kids hate bedtime. As a result, they may not be getting the amount of sleep they need to function well the following day. Healthcare professionals recommend that the average child should be getting at least 10 hours of sleep each night. Children need to get enough sleep time to improve their general health and energy levels. If they don’t, not only will they be feeling dazed and tetchy the following morning, but they are also more likely to pick up illnesses as their body will not have had enough time to recharge their immune system. With this in mind, it would be wise to establish a good bedroom routine as soon as possible.
· Install air conditioning in the home
You may never have considered the benefits of air conditioning for your home; however, there is evidence to suggest that it could be of huge benefit to your child’s health. Heatstroke can be extremely damaging and, in worst-case scenarios, can lead to death. Therefore, keeping your home cool will ensure that your child’s body temperature doesn’t overheat. What’s more, the constant flow of air from the system can lower the number of airborne allergens such as fur, pollen, and mold, which cause asthma symptoms, providing the filters are changed regularly. Having an air conditioning system from a reputable company such as Air Force Air Conditioning and Heating would be extremely advantageous to your child’s health and wellbeing.
· Be a role model for optimism
As your child reaches their teenage years, it’s natural for puberty to cause mood swings and insecurity. Try and encourage your child to develop a positive outlookfrom a very young age, so they’re able to handle challenging moments they are faced with. Scientists have also discovered that children who are taught to look on the bright side are less likely to face depression in later life.During this stage of their life, they will encounter plenty of emotional challenges which they don’t yet have the mental capacity to cope with. While you may be concerned for their wellbeing, staying calm and rational should help them open up and come to terms with their feelings.
· Offer plenty of fruit and vegetables
Everyone should be getting their five-a-day, but it is even more important for children to get a balanced diet and the correct nutrition. In doing so, they will have the best start in life for good health and wellbeing. Eating fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the likelihood of cancer and obesity and improve heart health.
While you may regularly serve fruit and vegetables on your child’s plate, it’s not unusual for them to turn their nose up and refuse to eat it (which many parents can probably relate to), but more often than not, this is typically down to the fact that they haven’t been educated to like them. The newnessto any food can be off-putting, so it’s your job to break down those fears and get them to become more experimental with their meals.
One of the best ways for children to become more experimental would be to get them involved in the kitchen. The process of planning the meal, prepping the food, and serving is sure to instill a sense of curiosity and make them more inclined to taste what they have created. As a result, it will encourage them to try new foods and expand their horizons.
· Be wary of stress
Just because kids don’t have a heap of responsibility on their shoulders doesn’t mean that they don’t suffer from daily stress. Simply going to school can be a huge deal for many youngsters – from learning new topics to facing bullies. While it’s not often possible to get involved in every aspect of your child’s life to prevent them from confronting difficulties, it’s extremely important to be on the lookout for any signs of stress, anxiety, and worry which are starting to have an impact on their health. Failure to step in at the correct time could lead to more serious mental health problems later in life.
Let your child know that you’re always around to listen,and there will be no judgment from you. A simple chat could be the quickest and easiest solution to resolve issues and allow them to see a different perspective on their worries.If you believe that there are situations that could be resolved in school, always inform the teacher about your child’s feelings so that the relevant steps are taken.
