5 Tips: Be a Healthy Role Model for Children

As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. As such, you have the most influence on your child, and if you want to set them up for lifetime success, you need to set a good example yourself. To help you out, we are listing five effective tips that will help you be a healthy role model for your children from day one.

Set an example yourself

As a parent, you need to understand that your kids are practically watching your every step. That means they will always follow your lead, wherever you’re headed. This is great if you’re building good habits since it means your kids will likely adopt them as well.

That being said, the problem arises when parents have bad health habits such as being physically inactive and following a poor diet. Aside from setting a bad example for their little ones, these bad habits can also lead to conditions such as diverticulitis and a range of other health problems. All this can potentially result in children continuously making poor lifestyle choices which could negatively affect their quality of life later on.

This is why it’s important to set a good example early on. This can be done by suggesting a favorable diet routine, going grocery shopping with children, and setting an example by munching on healthy snacks such as raw fruits and vegetables. Parents can also try to make the process fun by cutting foods into fun shapes using cookie cutters, having their kids participate in meal-prepping, encouraging their creativity by having them invent new snacks, and naming meals after them.

Employ mindful eating practices

We are so used to eating that we often do it without really realizing it. The fast pace of modern life has us all growing increasingly disconnected from the food we eat on a daily basis, and this sets a bad example for our children, too. Instead of simply opting for what’s quickest and most convenient, it’s important for parents to take time to eat healthy. Find healthy recipes, take time to make those meals, and be present while you’re sitting at a dining table having meals with your family members.

Aim to make eating a more mindful process, not just something you do to meet your needs. Talk to your kids about the food you’re eating and where it comes from and teach them what healthy food does for them. Also, make sure that the whole family is eating the same foods, and remember to eliminate any distractions during meals. This will help make mealtime a stress-free family time.

Teach the importance of prevention

They say that prevention is better than cure, and while many of us are aware of this, oftentimes, we get so caught up in our daily lives that our health takes a backseat. As a parent, you want your child to understand that ensuring optimal health, later on, is a matter of making well-informed, cautious decisions early on.

For instance, one of the first things parents can do for their child’s future health is to bank cord blood. The process essentially involves the preservation of stem cells from the umbilical cord, which, according to experts from the New York cord blood bank, are highly valuable to baby, mom, and other family members. It is preventative steps like these that can give parents peace of mind since they’ll know that if the child does get sick, they’ll be able to help them recover instead of beating themselves up over it and how it could’ve been prevented.

Encourage physical activity on a regular basis

We already mentioned that building healthy habits need to start early on, and this is especially true when it comes to physical activity. In a time when many of us are spending our days sitting in front of a screen, it can be easy for our children to pick up this bad habit and begin leading a sedentary lifestyle themselves.

This is why it’s important to encourage exercising early on. Even though it can be far too easy to just head to the couch after getting back from work, you need to make a conscious effort to get your body moving and encourage the whole family to do the same. It may take some time to figure out which physical activities your children enjoy the most, but once you do, and they see you moving and enjoying the same activities, they will want to move more, even more so if you manage to find activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Make sure to limit screen time

As our world becomes increasingly digitalized, our daily lives and routines are undergoing constant changes. We’re spending more waking hours in front of our screens than ever, whether we’re talking about laptops, smartphones, tablets, or TVs. Most parents are aware that limiting screen time for their kids is essential if they want to see them growing up happy, healthy, and active. However, what many parents don’t seem to realize is that limiting screen time for themselves is just as important.

Therefore, try to restrict your screen time to no more than two hours a day, and do the same for your children. Instead of letting them spend their free time on a device, get the whole family moving. Head outside for a game of kickball, try a new board game, or browse a new and exciting recipe you can cook together. You will be spending some quality time together, and, as we all know, time spent with family is time well spent. 

Wrapping up

Being a healthy role model is all about modeling the behaviors you want your children to adopt. You are, after all, your family’s leader, and by setting a good example yourself and making healthy choices on a daily basis, you can expect your children to follow the lead and form good habits from day one, thus setting them up for a lifetime of good health.