1. Be a positive role model. If you're practicing healthy habits, it's a lot easier to convince children to do the same.
2. Get the whole family active. Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take
walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone
will benefit from the exercise and the time together.
3. Limit TV, video game and computer time. These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle
and excessive snacking, which increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
4. Encourage physical activities that children really enjoy. Every child is unique. Let
children experiment with different activities until each finds something that he or she
really loves doing. They'll stick with it longer if they love it.
5. Be supportive. Focus on the positive instead of the negative. Everyone likes to be
praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a
good self-image.
6. Set specific goals and limits, such as one hour of physical activity a day or two
desserts per week other than fruit. When goals are too abstract or limits too
restrictive, the chance for success decreases.
7. Don't reward children with food. Candy and snacks as a reward encourage bad
habits. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.
8. Make dinnertime a family time. When everyone sits down together to eat, there's
less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Get the kids
involved in cooking and planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits together
and the quality time with the family will be an added bonus.
9. Make a game of reading food labels. The whole family will learn what's good for
their health and be more conscious of what they eat. It's a habit that helps change
behavior for a lifetime. |
