What you teach your kids when they’re young will stick with them for the rest of their lives. All the lessons, principles, and habits that you expose them to now will influence who they become as adults. That’s why it’s important for parents to build safe and responsible habits that they can teach their children while they’re young. Set your kids up for success with these essential healthy habits to pass on to your children.
Be Active Every Day
With television, video games, phones, computers, and more, it seems like everyone spends too much time in front of a screen these days. Help your kids limit their screentime and stay active throughout their lives by getting the whole family up and out of the house on a daily basis.
Remember that being active is about more than just exercise. The simple act of moving around and breathing in fresh air is healthy in and of itself. Play in the yard, take walks around the neighborhood, or work in the garden together. When these activities become a daily routine, your kids will learn to enjoy an active lifestyle throughout their lives.
Use Portion Sizes at Meals
Good nutrition is vital for growing children, but healthy food habits are just as important. The way you talk about food affects how your child will feel about food as an adult. One key healthy habit to pass on to your children is using portion sizes. Learn how to properly portion your child’s meals when they’re young so that they learn to be thoughtful about what and how much they eat.
Portion sizes help you build balanced meals and avoid overindulging. This allows your kids to build a confident and healthy relationship with food, preventing diet-related issues as they grow older.
Eat Meals Together
Another healthy eating habit to keep in mind is sitting down together as a family. When mealtime is a family occasion instead of just a time to eat between other activities, you prioritize the experience of spending time together over the actual food you eat. Sitting down together for meals is a great way to bring the family closer. When you eat meals together, your children learn the value of quality time—a lesson that they’ll continue to treasure even after they move out of the house.
