Being healthy is, obviously, important, and it's something that we continue to push onto our kids because we know the importance of setting them up for life, but the problem with doing this is that it automatically causes them to kick against the idea of doing anything healthy. The best thing for any parent to do is to incorporate healthy habits and practices into their lives, but do it with your child. So with this in mind, what are some of the best ways for you to work together on your health?
Brushing Your Teeth Together
Any family dental care provider will tell you that it's important to lead by example, and when it comes to those important habits, brushing your teeth together is something that helps set that example. By standing together and brushing your teeth in the mirror, your child is able to see what you are doing to brush your teeth properly, but also it gives you the opportunity to check their form. When children brush their teeth, they can tend to do things quickly, rather than do it correctly. Of course, brushing your teeth is such an important habit that you have to lead by example.
Walking Around the House
When we are at home, that temptation to sit down and watch television is always going to be there, and the problem is that, as far as, after a hard day, this is all we want to do! But you need to remember that your children will think of this as the norm, and they become couch potatoes as they get older. If your children see you walking to your partner to say something to them rather than shouting across the house, it's these little bits of exercise that add up to what they call a “cumulative effect.” And when you start to add little bits of activity, this will add up to a far healthier life.
Dancing Around the Kitchen!
Having a boogie is going to be beneficial for your cardiovascular health, but it's also a wonderful thing to incorporate that sense of unity as a family. When everybody is having fun in the kitchen, it's going to make for a more relaxed atmosphere. This is very important to remember if you are constantly stressed out. Even having a few minutes of relaxation time and having fun with the kids will make for that overall happy family feeling.
Preparing Foods
It is important for our children to eat healthily, but a lot of the problems stem from the fact that our children do not feel inclined to eat something because they didn't prepare it and if they don't like the look of something on their plate, they will turn their nose up at it. One of the best things we can do with our children is to get them into the kitchen and prepare food as soon as possible. It's not just a great way to teach them the basics of hygiene and preparation, but when your children have an active involvement with the food they're going to eat, they can have more creative control over what goes where, and they will be more inclined to eat it because they put the effort into it.
There are so many practices in life that you can do to be healthy, but when it comes to your children, the most important thing is to work together.