We often hear the cliche statements, “Practice what you preach” or “You are what you eat,” and we take for granted the applicable value of these statements. We go through our days trying to strike a balance between what is good for us and what we want to indulge in that may not be the healthiest choice. At the end of each day, we really only answer to ourselves. However, the moment we become parents those statements take on a new perspective when we realize that the young eyes of our children are watching our every move.
Once children enter our lives, we take on the responsibility of being their very first educators and role models. We diligently ensure that they eat nutritious foods, avoid germs, and engage in developmentally-appropriate playtime. When our children get to that toddler age when they are fully aware of our behaviors, that is when leading by example becomes part of our daily routine. Their dietary practices and physical activity are closely correlated to what we do or don’t do each day.
How many parents encourage their children to eat their vegetables, but find themselves turning their noses up at those same vegetables as they eat them in front of their children? While this may evoke a humorous image in your mind, it should also challenge you to reflect on what your children see you do that may be a subconscious reaction. If we are going to build a healthier future generation, we should consider finding those vegetables and fruits that we can enjoy with our children that can be incorporated into a regular food plan. For those healthy foods that your children seem to love more than you, perhaps those foods would be best served in their lunchboxes at school.
Another culprit that many families are guilty of is the couch potato syndrome. Television has been the place where families gather and decompress after a long day. Unfortunately the time in front of tube has exceeded four hours each day and resulted in a lack of physical activity for the entire family. With high rates of childhood obesity in this nation, each parent has a responsibility to show our child ren the benefits of fitness and movement. All it takes is a ball or a jump rope, nothing fancy, to get the family active together.
An important factor for keeping children healthy that isn't related to food and fitness is helping them to build healthy relationships. As parents we can show our children that healthy relationships are built on respect and wise trust of people in our lives. I say "wise" trust because we all need to develop and use a level of discernment about who we bring and keep in our inner circle. All relationships have appropriate boundaries that help the relationship to work and promote safe feelings. Teaching this to our children helps them to develop mutually healthy relationships.
Finally, our children see how we deal with stress in our lives. When we fall out exasperated over a stressful situation, we cannot be surprised if our children model the same behavior. I met a mom who sits on the floor with her children and they close their eyes and take deep breaths. Whenever the children feel frustrated or overwhelmed, they all stop, close their eyes and breathe to diffuse the emotions. Another mom encourages her children to say a mantra while looking at themselves in the mirror, a practice she has engaged in for years. It encourages self-awareness and helps to promote a positive outlook on life through their own eyes.
Our children can be healthy with every positive example that we model for them. Seek to be mindful each day about what is said and done, especially in their presence.
activity are closely correlated to what we do or don’t do each day.
How many parents encourage their children to eat their vegetables, but find themselves turning their noses up at those same vegetables as they eat them in front of their children? While this may evoke a humorous image in your mind, it should also challenge you to reflect on what your children see you do that may be a subconscious reaction. If we are going to build a healthier future generation, we should consider finding those vegetables and fruits that we can enjoy with our children that can be incorporated into a regular food plan. For those healthy foods that your children seem to love more than you, perhaps those foods would be best served in their lunchboxes at school.
Another culprit that many families are guilty of is the couch potato syndrome. Television has been the place where families gather and decompress after a long day. Unfortunately the time in front of tube has exceeded four hours each day and resulted in a lack of physical activity for the entire family. With high rates of childhood obesity in this nation, each parent has a responsibility to show our child ren the benefits of fitness and movement. All it takes is a ball or a jump rope, nothing fancy, to get the family active together.
An important factor for keeping children healthy that isn't related to food and fitness is helping them to build healthy relationships. As parents we can show our children that healthy relationships are built on respect and wise trust of people in our lives. I say "wise" trust because we all need to develop and use a level of discernment about who we bring and keep in our inner circle. All relationships have appropriate boundaries that help the relationship to work and promote safe feelings. Teaching this to our children helps them to develop mutually healthy relationships.
Finally, our children see how we deal with stress in our lives. When we fall out exasperated over a stressful situation, we cannot be surprised if our children model the same behavior. I met a mom who sits on the floor with her children and they close their eyes and take deep breaths. Whenever the children feel frustrated or overwhelmed, they all stop, close their eyes and breathe to diffuse the emotions. Another mom encourages her children to say a mantra while looking at themselves in the mirror, a practice she has engaged in for years. It encourages self-awareness and helps to promote a positive outlook on life through their own eyes.
Our children can be healthy with every positive example that we model for them. Seek to be mindful each day about what is said and done, especially in their presence.