Collaborating Author: Jenna Sherman
Parents are pivotal in shaping children’s habits and choices into adulthood. Instilling a foundation of healthy decision-making early on can influence everything from nutrition and physical activity to emotional well-being and social interactions. Parents can guide their children toward a lifestyle that prioritizes balance and resilience by modeling positive behaviors and creating an environment that supports growth. This article explores practical strategies for fostering lifelong healthy habits empowering children in the kitchen, classroom and beyond!
To nurture healthy habits in your children, tailor health education to their developmental stages. For younger kids, integrate exercise and balanced nutrition into their daily routines. As they grow, remember to talk about the risks of harmful behaviors, like substance use, and reinforce these lessons with practical examples at home. Get them to participate in school health programs, youth groups lead by honorable civic leaders/ministers and collaborate with educators to ensure consistent messaging. Actively participating in your child’s health education can reinforce school teachings and instill family values that guide them toward lifelong healthy decisions.
The above link to healthychildren.org/… I don’t agree with everything that is on this link, however, I will quote without hesitation that “Health education programs are most effective if parents are involved. Parents can complement and reinforce what children are learning in school during conversations and activities at home.”
The key message of the action chart is to provide parents with age-specific guidance on nurturing their children’s development, fostering a strong bond, and creating a supportive environment for learning and growth. It aims to empower parents with practical actions they can take to positively impact their child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development at different stages of childhood.
This action chart shows the top 5 actions parents can take to nurture their children at various ages. Group actions into ages below 5, ages 6-11, ages 12 and above.
Ages below 5 | Ages 6-11 | Ages 12+ |
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– Read to your child daily to foster language development and a love for books.
| – Schedule regular family time for bonding and communication. | – Foster open communication and listen actively to your child’s concerns and ideas.
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– Engage in imaginative play to help develop creativity and social skills.
| – Encourage independent learning and problem-solving skills through age-appropriate challenges. | – Encourage independence and decision-making, while offering guidance as needed. |
– Establish consistent routines to provide a sense of stability and security.
| – Support extracurricular activities to explore interests and develop new skills. | – Help your child set and work towards short and long-term goals. |
– Encourage physical activity to promote healthy growth and development.
| – Set and enforce appropriate rules and boundaries for behavior and screen time. | – Teach time management skills to balance academics, hobbies, and social activities. |
– Limit screen time and ensure any digital content is age-appropriate.
| – Foster a love for learning by providing access to a variety of books and educational materials. | – Be a positive role model for behaviors and values you want to instill in your child. |
… More steps in future posts to come about How to help kids make healthier food choices. Chefsville wanted to break this down into shorter blog segments for our viewers.
Bibliography:
– American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Media and Young Minds.
– Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2014). The Science of Early Childhood Development.
– National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2019). Position Statement on Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs.
– Zero to Three. (2021). Play: Essential for All Children.
– The National Parenting Center. (2020). Parenting in the Digital Age: A Guide to Help Families Navigate Technology Use.
– Child Mind Institute. (2016). Encouraging Development and Learning in School-Age Children.
– The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2019). The Importance of Reading with Your Children.
– National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). Parental Involvement in Children’s Education.
– American Psychological Association. (2015). How to Help Teens Develop Good Study Habits.
– Kids Health. (2021). Talking to Your Child About Puberty.
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