First priority in a parent’s life is learn how to raise children that are healthy and happy. Kids don’t come with instructions, and understanding how to raise a healthy child need time and learning. You can easily become overwhelmed with the amount of information on how to raise smart kids, emotionally balanced kids and kids that are good at everything. Yet, the most important information you will need is how to raise healthy children.
How to Raise Children That Is Physically Healthy
1. Try to Spend Active Time with Your Child
Encourage and motivate your child by doing things that make them excited about being physically active. Sign them up for dance or sports. Practice with them at home and show interest in being physically active yourself. During activity make sure they are dressed right for the weather and offer plenty of fluids.Also, get moving with your child. Try to do physical activity with your child at least an hour a day. Such physical activitiescan include:
- Go on a nature walk
- Teach them to play hopscotch
- Bounce a ball together
- Play with bubbles
- Play with balloons
Besides, to get your children outside, limit the amount of time they are allowed on the computer or television. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting your child’s television and computer time to 2 hours a day.
2. Make Healthy Diet Schedules
Processed food is sometimes easier to fit into a busy schedule or budget, but it is not good for growing bodies. Try to plan more meals and cook for kids with these tips:
- Make ahead several dinners on one free day and freeze them
- Look for “30 minute” fresh meal recipes for busy nights
- Use frozen veggies and fruits that are packed full of vitamins
- Keep “low-sodium” canned foods on hand for quick meals
Going all out at once to make your children eat healthy may be met with protests. As they say “baby steps” with this and here is how you can make it easier:
- Stop buying sodas and replace with healthy juices and water
- Try adding pureed veggies to muffins, sauces and smoothies
- Look for organic whole grain versions of chips, cookies and crackers
- Switch to olive oil for cooking
- Cut back on full sugar cereal and try adding fruit for flavor or dried raisins/cranberries
3. Set Good Examples for Your Child
Today’s busy lifestyle can put us all in a rut. As parents we need to model healthy behavior for our children. Show your child how to be healthy by:
- Eat healthy with your kids
- Get regular exercise with your kids
- Have a positive attitude
- Motivate your kids to be involved
4. Give Sufficient Nutrients to Your Child
Growing kids need specific nutrients to be healthy. Eating too many processed foods can rob your child of vital nourishment. Make sure your child’s meals include the following:
Vitamins A, C, D, and E. These are four of the most important vitamins you can give your child. They help with proper development of the immune system, skin, eyes, nervous system, brain and other organs. Feed your child a variety of fruits and veggies to get these nutrients.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids.Getting enough DHA is important for healthy brain development in children. Feed your child some high Omega-3 foods like; flax, salmon and healthy oils.
Iron. Babies and kids need plenty of iron to prevent anemia and get enough oxygen throughout the body. Iron also helps brain function and motor skills development. Feed your child iron fortified formula and cereal to get enough of this mineral.
Calcium. Paired with vitamin D can help build strong bones, a healthy nervous system and proper muscle function. Your child needs at least 400 IU of vitamin D to absorb the calcium from milk or milk products. Other calcium foods are; green leafy veggies, broccoli and canned fish.
Vitamin B. Vitamin B helps with a healthy nervous system, healthy hair and brain development. Feed your child plenty of green veggies, beans and bananas.
Zinc. Zinc helps to build your child’s immune system and builds healthy brain cells. Zinc can be found in most cereals and meats.
How to Raise Children That Is Emotionally Healthy
Raising a child is not an easy thing. When raising a child, you will expect a physically and emotionallyhealthy child. While, as for emotional health, parents may hold various opinions on how to raise an emotionally healthy child, the points below can give you a good guideline.
1. Listen to Your kid’s Thoughts
Communication with your kids is very important. As parents, we want our children to listen to us and do what we say. It is just as important to listen to our children. Allowing your children to talk openly about their thoughts and feelings will help you have a very emotionally balanced child.
2. Show Respect to Your Child
Parents expect their children to respect them, and kids are equally deserving of our respect. You need to take your kids seriously, which shows your kids that they have self-worth. Be courteous to your child when you talk to them. Never criticize your child, and help your kids build their self-esteem.
3. Let Them Feel and Express Feelings
Children need to express their feelings whether it is happiness, sadness, anger and excitement. Making kids hold emotions by teaching them to bottle things up can spill over into adulthood. Never tells a child “Don’t feel…”Kids also need to show their feelings by way of laughter, crying or even yelling sometimes. You don’t even have to try to “make it all better” for your child. Just show them you care, offer comfort and listen to how they are feeling.
4. Accept Your Child’s Boundaries
Children have boundaries just like adults do. Listening and respecting how they are feeling shows you respect their boundaries.Your communication with your child is supposed to be harmonious and respectful without verbal abuse and attacks. Also, accept your child’s boundaries on body touching. If your child feels shy about hugs and kisses, respect that. Give kidsspace and privacy. Never ask their friends for information, read their personal journal or their mail.
5. Allow Proper Independence forYour Child
Children need to learn early on how to do things for themselves. Children who are codependent on their parents tend to become codependent on another person later in life. Give them the chance of trying something by themselves and then step in and offer help only if necessary. Do not over “pamper” your child. Also, allow your child to make their own choices and decisions. They also need to learn the consequences of poor decision making. This will help them become healthy adults and healthy partners in marriage.
6. Set Rules in Family Life
Children need a set of rules that are predictable and balanced. Too harsh or unhealthy rules can cause anxiety in children. Too much authority from parents can cause children to become codependent. Parents need to be on the same page with each other about what rules are and they need to be consistently enforced.
7. Always Avoid Physical Punishment
Avoid physical punishment at all costs. This tends to only be a vent for parents anger and literally scaresthe child to dowhat you want. This only teaches them to use the same manipulation on others when they get older. Use humane punishments that fit the disobedient actions for example; time-outs, cleaning up a mess they made or doing something kind for someone they were mean to. This way your child learns peaceful resolutions to problems.
More tips about how to raise child is shared in the video: