Healthy family habits are the key to raising healthy children. Children look up to their parents as role models, so modeling a healthy lifestyle for them is a priority for parents.
Healthy eating and exercise are two habits that many people are concerned about. Setting personal health goals is a great place to start, but it’s even better to lead your family on a healthy journey together. It’s also a great idea to broaden the scope of your family’s healthy habits to include every aspect of your life. Brushing your teeth, wearing a helmet and washing your hands are just a few healthy habits you can incorporate.
As children get older, it can be challenging to change the habits they have developed. So, don’t put off helping your child develop healthy habits. They will soon develop good habits that will last a lifetime.
Read through the presentation for 19 tips that you can try together as a family. If you’re already putting in a lot of effort, give yourself some encouragement. Make a note of what you want to work on with your family.
1. Folding the quilt
This simple good habit is often overlooked. Tidy bedding helps you and your children start the day with positive energy. At the end of a long day, a tidy bedroom will make you feel more comfortable.
Keep track of the date you folded your bedding on a chart so your family can see it. You can also have a quilt folding contest to make this a fun habit to get into. Letting your children see your tidy bedroom will help them understand the importance of this daily chore to you.
2. Hand washing
Hand washing is probably the most important habit to maintain good health. Washing your hands before and after meals is an effective way to keep bacteria at bay. Therefore, teaching your family the importance of hand washing is critical to maintaining good health.
Parents should remind their children to wash their hands frequently throughout the day. Children who have difficulty washing their hands independently may need a stool to help them reach the faucet. Also, you need to teach your child how to properly wash their hands by rubbing them with hand sanitizer and rinsing them with warm water for at least 20 seconds. Bacteria can spread from person to person and make people sick. Teaching this important habit will help prevent the spread of unhealthy germs, which will make your family and community healthier.
3. Eat breakfast every day
Your family’s day starts with a healthy habit: eating breakfast. At the beginning of a busy day, breakfast is often the first thing people neglect to do to save time. Stick to healthy habits and make sure your family eats breakfast every day.
This is one of the best ways to combat overeating during the day. Breakfast fills you up early and provides you with a constant source of energy until lunch. If you need some time-saving and easy breakfast suggestions to help you get into the habit, try poached eggs, fruit, or whole wheat toast with nut butter.
4. Brush teeth
It may be difficult for children to remember to brush their teeth twice a day. However, this habit is essential to maintaining good oral health.
This is because brushing your teeth removes stains and bacteria deposits, and preventing stains and bacteria from settling on your teeth can help keep your mouth healthy.
Therefore, it is important to make it a habit to brush your teeth twice a day to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Brushing for two minutes at a time is the recommended length of time. You can put a timer in the bathroom to help your child brush for two minutes. You can also sing a song or play a piece of music to make brushing your child’s teeth fun.
5. Tidy up the room
Keeping your living environment neat and organized is a healthy habit that every family member can participate in. Your time at home will be more enjoyable if everything is in the right place. A clean home environment can help you turn your attention from clutter to your beloved family and healthy living.
Show your children where their toys, books, clothes and shoes should go. Help your child develop the habit of putting things back where they belong after use. Tidying up your room is also a great way to teach your child responsibility and respect for personal belongings.
You can organize your family into a team and set a timer for 10 minutes to tidy up the room. Compete to see who can tidy up the whole house the fastest. Assign different tasks to your children each day so they can learn to sweep, scrub and dust. They’ll appreciate that you taught them to be tidy from a young age, and they’ll be able to keep their rooms tidy once they’re living on their own.
6. Turn off the TV
Watching TV can take up a lot of your family’s free time. Sitting down and relaxing for short periods of time can be relaxing, but too much time can affect productivity. Staying active and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle can be difficult if the TV is on all the time.
So limit your TV viewing time to one hour a day. Then turn off the TV and find better ways for your family to relax. Bozzy tabletop games are also fun and accessible to every member of the family. These tabletop games can also help children build reasoning and problem-solving skills. Set a good example for your children by suggesting a game for them to play together when they have reached their TV time limit.
You may even notice an improvement in sleep quality after you limit the amount of time you watch TV. Moving your eyes away from electronic screens can help your eyes relax, avoid blue light radiation, and help you fall asleep more easily.
7. Get moving
When it comes to relaxing and playing with the family, exercise fulfills both needs. A structured exercise program is a good habit that the whole family can work on together. Instilling a love of exercise in young people at an early age can be a great foundation for a fitness habit that lasts a lifetime.
You don’t have to do a complicated exercise program to reap the benefits of regular exercise. Your exercise can be playing basketball in the parking lot or dancing to your favorite song. When you bring the whole family together, you can enjoy family time and exercise at the same time.
Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day. If you have a very tight schedule, you can make time to exercise by walking to school or biking to work. The family can talk together about how you can help build a good habit of exercising every day.
8. Seek adventure together
Families that play together are closer. Going on a family-friendly adventure allows you and your beloved family to bond through exercise.
Recreating in nature is a great way to see local scenery and enjoy family time. Hiking, biking, fishing and rock climbing are all outdoor adventures your family can try.
9. Wear safety gear
Safety is part of a healthy exercise routine. Wear safety gear when appropriate to demonstrate safe play. If your children see you wearing safety gear while riding, they will follow your lead.
Make it a habit to wear a helmet, leg pads or elbow pads before you go out to play. These pieces of protective equipment will protect you from injury and teach your children how to stay safe.
10. Protection from sun damage
Applying sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin from sun damage. Children and adults alike need to apply sunscreen before going out to play. Get into the habit of actively applying sunscreen.
Teach your children how to apply sunscreen on their own. You can buy mineral-based sunscreens for children to gently protect their delicate skin. Remind each other to reapply sunscreen every two hours when you go out to play. Make it a habit to wear a hat to block the sun and protect your skin.
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