Healthy habits start early. Really early.
Put your youngsters on the right path with healthy household habits.
Young children are definitely busy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re active. Kids under five need regular active play and physical activity to build the foundations of a healthy lifestyle.
One study showed that four-year-old kids with household routines including regular family meals, adequate sleep and limited screen time had a 40% lower risk of developing obesity. Here are some other healthy household routines for your family to get into:
Make time for play: Kids need time to run around, explore, build, imagine and let loose with their friends and family members. Make sure you make regular time for active play, indoors and out.
Turn off the TV: Children and youth should be getting no more than two hours of screen time per day. For preschoolers, the recommendation is less than one hour, and for toddlers under two, the recommendation is zero screen time. Make some house rules and try to stick to them.
Bike, stroll or roll: Active transportation is one of the easiest ways to get more activity into your day. So, walk or cycle your kids to daycare or school, and consider lacing up whenever you are going to the corner store, heading to the dog park or off to a play date.
Walk the walk: Remember that your own choices have a big influence on your kids. If you can be an active role model and make regular time to get active, your kids will take notice. Be a fit mom or dad and you’re more likely to have fit, healthy kids.