As a parent, one thought that will always be at the forefront of your mind is the health and well-being of your children. They are the most important people in your life, and you will always do everything in your power to ensure they are healthy and happy.
You've probably concluded by now that any people you come across in life will give you all kinds of advice and handy hints on how to bring up your children. Some of those tips will undoubtedly be invaluable, whereas others can be quietly ignored!
When it comes to your children's health, it makes sense to follow fact-based ideas and methods. The trouble is, knowing what's good to keep in mind and what might be outdated can be confusing at times.
With that in mind, take a look at the following top ten ways to help your kids grow healthy and strong:
1. Ensure Your Children Have Up-To-Date Vaccines
There's no denying that COVID-19 has made everyone more aware of keeping up-to-date with vaccinations. It's a well-known fact that while vaccinations won't prevent people from getting ill, they significantly reduce the risk of becoming sick in the first place.
That's why it makes sense for your kids to keep on top of their vaccinations. They can receive them from your family doctor or pediatricians at a local medical facility, and the process only takes a few seconds for each shot.
2. Teach Proper Hand-Washing Techniques
Children will often be too busy doing fun stuff or not focusing on what they're doing to notice that they need to clean their hands. Hand washing is undoubtedly one of the top ways to help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria.
Therefore, it's crucial that you teach your kids proper hand-washing techniques where they wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds using soap and water.
It's also important that you teach them to always wash their hands after using the bathroom, getting their hands dirty playing, or after touching surfaces in public places.
3. Provide A Balanced Diet
The food your children eat will ultimately dictate their overall health. For example, feeding your kids a diet largely consisting of processed food, sweet treats, and soda will have little to no nutritional benefit.
But, providing a balanced diet without completely sacrificing the things they shouldn't always eat will ensure your kids will mostly eat the food and drinks that do offer positive nutritional benefits.
Note that you should take on board when your children tell you they don't like certain foods, just as you do.
4. Look Out For Signs Of Stress And Anxiety
Children of all ages are often under a lot of stress and pressure, either from school to achieve good grades, their peers to "fit in" with the crowd, or parents to do things like tidying up after themselves.
Sometimes, kids will struggle to keep their stress under control, and they'll become anxious and either refuse to do certain things or become what you may describe as "naughty."
That's why you should look out for any significant signs of stress and anxiety and work with your children to help them manage and overcome any of life's obstacles.
5. Set A Strict Bedtime Routine
According to The Better Sleep Council, children need a minimum of eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Very young kids and babies need a lot more sleep than teenagers, for example, so you need to establish a strict bedtime routine for your children.
Certain things can keep your kids awake, such as having lots of screen time, so it's worth establishing a routine that involves no screen time at least one hour before bedtime.
6. Communicate With Your Kids
The sad truth about today's busy society is that many parents struggle to spend quality time with their kids due to work or other daily commitments.
When that happens, parents will seldom know what their kids are thinking or feeling about things going on in their lives. Those children can sometimes end up feeling lonely and unloved even though the opposite is true.
Good communication is key to maintaining any relationship in life, and this especially applies to the relationships parents have with their kids. In short - always find the time to communicate with your children and be there for them.
7. Set Screen Time Limits
There's no hiding from the fact that today's digital world means that most youngsters will have access to an array of technology, from smartphones and tablets to game consoles and computers.
Social media, web surfing, and gaming can become quite addictive for young people. That's why you should consider setting some boundaries regarding screen time.
No hard and fast rule works for everyone, so it's worth discussing the subject with your kids and agreeing on a practical screen time schedule.
8. Make Exercising A Regular Event
Children have lots of energy they need to expend each day and one of the best ways to achieve that goal is through exercising.
Getting your kids to do physical activities like running, swimming, or playing sports each day is hugely beneficial for their bodies and minds alike. Talk to your kids about the physical activities they like to do and work those activities into their free time each day.
9. Don’t Overload Their Backpacks
Kids often have to carry all kinds of things with them each day on their way to and from school. Books, writing materials, and food are just some of the things they must lug around in their daily lives.
You need to make sure they aren't carrying around too much stuff that could cause them back and neck strain or even injuries.
10. Teach Your Kids About Road Safety
Last but not least, one final thing you should do is teach your kids about road safety. Don't assume they are "streetwise" and will know what to do when crossing busy roads, for instance.