Children look up to their parents early on in their lives. Parents are the role models for their kids and as they grow, children imitate their parents’ behavior and actions. Parental wisdom and habits are inextricably inherited by the kids. Thus, it is vital to point out the kids to differentiate between good and bad habits, and choose the good ones. Also, it is important to develop good habits in kids from an early age.
- Healthy eating:
The foundation for healthy eating habits is at home. The development and growth of your child depend on them eating healthy nutritious foods.
Children need to eat foods from each of the three main food groups — vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.
Below are some ideas for getting started with healthy eating:
- Make sure your child likes at least one food from each of the food groups.
- Make sure to choose a variety of different colored, textured, and tasted fruits and vegetables.
- Breakfast should be a healthy meal for your child.
- Sweet drinks should be limited.
- There is nothing better than a simple snack (fruit, vegetable slices, crackers, buttermilk).
- Families can make a big difference when they enjoy a meal together.
- Be a good role model. Lifestyle choices and your eating habits can serve as powerful teaching tools for your child.
- Encourage your child to participate in meal planning and preparation with you.
- During meals, turn off the television. Using this method, your child is constantly aware of what he or she is eating and what healthy food options they have.
- Exercise regularly:
Bonding time with family usually takes place when families are watching movies or television. When children exercise as part of a bonding activity, they develop their communication skills and learn what teamwork is all about.
Furthermore, seeing their parents prioritize family time and exercise time together will likely encourage their children to do the same.
- Washing hands and brushing twice a day:
The easiest and most effective way to prevent germs from spreading is to wash your hands. Our hands can become contaminated with so many germs when we sneeze, use the bathroom, play outside with our pets, blow our noses, and take out the trash. Washing our hands after doing these things is always a good idea, especially when we are preparing food, eating a meal, or snacking.
Aside from preventing expensive orthodontic care down the road, tooth brushing twice promotes overall health and can help to prevent cavities in children.
- Please, Thank you and sorry:
Teaching “Please, Thank you and sorry” to our children goes beyond simply teaching good manners; it is also about facilitating thoughtfulness, consideration, gratitude, politeness, and respect.
As parents, we can help instill the values we hope to instill in our children by modeling them. The child will internalize the lesson for life if we say please and thank you whenever he or she makes a request or when we apologize when we mess up.
- Cleaning up the mess/don’t litter:
When your children actively participate in the cleaning up after playing, they gain a sense of ownership, learn about the consequences of their actions, and become more responsible. After all, it is important to inculcate good habits in kids from an early age.
The impact of teaching children from an early age not to litter is even more significant since they become more respectful of the environment and each other. As a result, these values will probably stay with them throughout their life, possibly affecting future generations as well.
- Family bonding:
You bond as a family by doing things you love and spending quality time together. It may involve taking part in activities together, meeting at a picnic, watching a movie, eating a meal together, helping each other out, and playing games. The interaction of family members helps them get to know one another, become more understanding, feel more united, and develop deeper bonds.
- Read every day:
Reading aloud together with your child is the best way to prepare them for success as readers. You should have a wide range of books for your Storytime.
Whenever you’re going to be in one place for quite some time, make sure you have a book or magazine in your car or backpack. Read a few pages or discuss a few pictures from the book even if you cannot finish it.
- Sleep on time:
A regular schedule and bedtime rituals are key to helping kids get the sleep they need and function at their best. Make bedtime comfortable and relaxing by setting a nice environment. To help your child sleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed, establish and maintain good sleep habits.
- Work hard:
Teaching your kids how to work hard is one of the best ways to set them up for life’s success. Children who work hard are more likely to succeed at school, in sports, music, and other extra-curricular activities, as well as in their future careers and jobs.
Getting children to develop a good work ethic leads to their ability to handle challenges and rise to the occasion.
Inculcating good habits in kids from an early age may at times feel like is like an uphill battle. But you need to patiently lead them towards the proper path.
