Young children are eager to learn, and this is the perfect age for building healthy habits to last a lifetime. Here are five healthy habits you should start teaching your kid at a young age that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
ABC of Washing Hands
Inspire your child to take this habit seriously by washing your hands with your child. There is nothing like modeling good behavior for making a strong impression. You can use the ABC song, or singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, as a fun way of getting young children to wash their hands properly but taking the right amount of time to wash. Wet your hands, put some soap on, and then lather them together for as long as it takes to sing the ABC song once, or ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, before rinsing.
Don’t Forget Flossing
Many kids know how to brush their teeth, and it’s included in their daily routine. Brushing is not enough for good gum health, and flossing your child’s teeth for them becomes important as soon as their teeth are in. As they gain dexterity, help them shift over to flossing on their own. You can also have a family dentist at Silverado Family Dental show your kids proper oral health techniques. Learning about these things from a professional, rather than a parent, can help your kids understand the importance and get more excited.
Drinking More Water
Sweet drinks like soda, and even fruit juices, are not the best drinks on earth. That prize goes to clean, pure water. Filtered tap water is fine, but if it is not exciting enough for kids, try flavored, bottled water, iced herbal teas, or just adding ice cubes and a slice of lemon. Keep small bottles of water in the refrigerator where your child can reach them on their own. This helps them learn about responding to their body’s own cue of thirst and how to quench it.
Eating Veggies
One of the best ways of getting reluctant youngsters to try vegetables is by inviting them into the kitchen to help with cooking. A vegetable becomes more interesting when you help prepare and serve it to the rest of the family. Growing vegetables is another way of gaining a child’s interest in the healthy habit of eating veggies. If you do not have garden space, consider a small planter box or a few plastic containers in a sunny spot.
Time Out
Kids need to know it is okay to feel difficult and negative emotions. They are part of life. The important thing is what you do with them. Help your kid learn how taking time out, and a few deep breaths, when upset makes it easier to get what you want in the long run.
Healthy habits that are introduced at a young age are easier to keep as they get older. These basics are a great way to help your kids live a healthy lifestyle.
