HABIT 2: MOVING AND GROOVING

Another way to help kids stay healthy—and make bedtime easier—is to make sure they’re getting enough activity. Children who spend a lot of time in sedentary activities, like computer or television time, aren’t expending enough energy to get tired or burning enough calories to stay physically fit.

Encourage kids to enjoy active play, such as riding bikes or jumping rope, or engaging in less energetic (but still active) indoor activities, like dancing. One way to get physical is to have regular family fitness activities, like nature walks or bike rides.

Dance On! Ideas to Get Kids Moving

HABIT 3: POWERING UP WITH DOWNTIME

While it’s important for kids to remain active and learning, they also need some time to recharge and just be a kid. Providing your child with enough unstructured downtime has a number of benefits:

• Encourages creativity and imagination
• Helps to burn off excess energy
• Relieves the stress of responsibilities
• Helps to develop self-reliance and social skills

HABIT 4: BREAKING THE SUGAR CYCLE

Feeding your child a nutritious diet helps to keep them physically fit, and creates healthy eating habits that will stay with them into adulthood. Remind them of how important it is to eat breakfast every day. Skip the sugary cereal in favor of wheat or bran cereal, oatmeal, fruits, whole grain toast or muffins, eggs, and other power foods.

If possible, pack your children’s school lunches with nutritious choices from all the food groups, or talk to them about making healthy choices in the cafeteria. Enjoy a family meal in the evening so you can reconnect while setting an example for healthy eating.

Also, help your child develop a habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Stress the importance of increasing water consumption in the summer, especially after strenuous activities.

Teach Kids About Healthy Eating

HABIT 5: GETTING SQUEAKY CLEAN FROM HEAD TO TOE

Personal hygiene habits begin forming at an early age. Teach your child the importance of proper washing and regular bathing, in addition to frequent hand washing throughout the day. In addition, make sure your child is practicing good oral health by:
 

• Brushing at least twice a day
• Flossing daily (you can help children under 8 with flossing)
• Visiting the dentist regularly
• Limiting sugary snacks and drinks that can cause tooth decay

Regular shampooing and hair care is also important. For young children, shampooing every few days is fine, but pre-teens and adolescents should wash their hair daily. As a parent, be on the lookout for head lice, a very common and contagious infection that’s often caught at school. If your child’s school reports an instance, you should check your child every 3 to 4 days for signs of head lice. Also, remind kids not to share items that are used on or near the head, such as hats or scarves, combs and brushes, and bike helmets.

Read More Tips for Creating Healthy Hygiene Habits

By reinforcing these habits at home, you’ll give your children a strong foundation for a long and healthy life.