Three Solid Strategies for Raising Healthy Children

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Three Solid Strategies for Raising Healthy Children

You want what’s best for your children, but it’s difficult to understand how to get them to make the right choices for their minds and their bodies. With the right tools and information, you can help them learn to navigate the world in a healthy way. Embrace these solid strategies to ensure your family’s success.

1. Meal Plan, Shop and Cook Together

Getting kids to eat healthy can be a tough task. A great way to get them to try new things is to let them be part of the process so that they feel invested in it and are more likely to want to eat the things prepared for them.

Gather a variety of recipes that are healthy that you also think your child might like if they gave it a shot. Look through the recipes together, discussing ingredients and how you will make them, and let your child choose one to try. Have your child join you for grocery shopping, letting them choose items themselves from the ingredients when possible, and then prepare the meal together. When children get to take part in the process, they enjoy eating the food more, and even very little children can help with basic tasks.

2. Be Active Together

Kids love being active from the time they start moving. Help them keep that love of activity by engaging with kids from an early age and modeling good health by staying active together. Toddlers enjoy family walks and water play when it is nice out and yoga anytime. Yoga has been proven to improve mental health, with Harvard Health stating that in addition to helping with focus and self-esteem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms can also be minimized.

Karate is an excellent fitness choice for both kids and adults. At Ganbare Shotokan, children as young as three may sign up for classes. The physical demands of karate encourage kids and adults alike to improve their strength, coordination and flexibility. Karate has been shown to have long-lasting mental benefits, too, improving self-confidence and ability to focus.

3. Encourage Their Dreams

From an early age, it’s important to discuss with your children all that they can achieve if they are willing to put the work in. One of the biggest indicators of adulthood success is parental involvement in the pursuit of passions, so with you on their side advocating for them and showing them practical steps for how to achieve their goals, they are already on the path to success.

Talk to them about what they would like to be when they grow up and what steps they need to take to make their dreams a reality. For instance, if they would like to own a business one day, they could focus on math and communications in high school and study business in college. They can even earn an MBA online. There are flexible programs that accommodate a variety of interests, schedules and abilities. 

If they would like to go into health care, which Monster points out offers several options bursting with growth potential, they can focus on science in high school and then go to college to earn their degree. Many health care degrees such as nursing can also be earned online, although clinical practice will have to be completed in health care settings. Whatever path they choose, help them achieve it by breaking it down into steps that you can manage together.

Nothing is more precious than your children. Help them grow into the happy and healthy adults you want them to be by spending quality time with them cooking, being active and dreaming about the future. With you on their side guiding the way, the life they deserve is in reach.

Ganbare Shotokan is dedicated to teaching children and adults the time-tested practice of martial arts. For information on classes that can help you and your kids develop better mental and physical fitness, call (928) 851-6966. 

by Amanda Henderson at [safechildren.info]