Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

How To Get Your Kids To Live Healthier Lives

06/09/2022 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

A healthy lifestyle is essential for everyone, but it’s necessary for kids. A recent study found that kids with a healthy lifestyle are less likely to develop chronic diseases later in life. The following blog will discuss some tips on how you can get your kids to live healthier lives.

girl eating watermelon outside, summer, hot weather, fresh fruit

Photo by Jill Wellington

1) Be More Active

One of the best ways to get your kids to live healthier lives is to encourage them to be more active. Kids should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. There are plenty of ways to get your kids moving, such as playing tag, going for a walk or bike ride, or playing in the park.

Encouraging your kids to be more active doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it fun and try to do it together as a family. You can even turn it into a game where everyone gets points for every minute they’re active. The key is to make it something that everyone enjoys so that it becomes a regular part of your family’s routine.

2) Consider Gluten-Free Food Options

If your child has celiac disease or is gluten-sensitive, it’s essential to ensure they’re eating a gluten-free diet. There are plenty of delicious and healthy Gluten-Free food options available these days.

You can find gluten-free breads, pastas, cereals, and even snacks. Many grocery stores now have a dedicated gluten-free section. And if you’re unsure about something, you can always check the label or ask a staff member for help.

Making sure your child is eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the best things you can do to help them live a healthier life.

3) Teach Them About the Importance of Sleep

Getting enough sleep is crucial for good health, but it’s something that many kids don’t get enough of. It’s important to teach your kids about the importance of sleep and how it can impact their overall health.

Help them understand that getting enough sleep will help them feel better, perform better in school, and avoid getting sick. You can also set a bedtime for your kids and ensure they stick to it.

4) Tell Them The Importance Of Hydration

Kids need to stay hydrated, especially during the hotter months. Dehydration can cause headaches and dizziness and even make it hard to concentrate.

Make sure your kids are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. You can also pack them a water bottle to take with them to school or on outings. And if they’re not big fans of plain water, you can try adding some fruit slices or herbs for flavor.

5) Help Them Develop Healthy Habits

One of the best ways to get your kids to live healthier lives is to help them develop healthy habits. This can include things like eating breakfast every day, brushing their teeth twice a day, and getting regular exercise.

You can also set up a reward system for when they accomplish these tasks. For example, you can give them a sticker or allow them to choose a fun activity to do when they brush their teeth twice a day for a week.

In conclusion, there are several things you can do to help your kids live healthier lives. Be sure to encourage them to be more active, make healthy food choices, and get plenty of sleep. Helping them develop healthy habits now will set them up for a lifetime of good health.

Going Green, Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

Children’s Health Is Degrading In America. What Can We Do?

06/09/2022 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

According to a Children’s Health Fund report, over one-third of children between the ages of 17 and 1 have at least one health condition. A whopping 40% confirm that the condition affects their day-to-day activities.

Not all conditions may be life-threatening, but children living with conditions such as autism, asthma, and even anxiety problems can experience unexpected challenges. Additionally, modern US lifestyle choices can present huge risk factors, such as a poor diet or lack of physical activities. What can parents do to improve their children’s health and give them the best chances in life?

Unsplash – CC0 license

Help them feel comfortable with their pediatrician

Children of all ages may feel uncomfortable when they need to visit the doctor. Young children are prone to panic and tears. Older ones tend to clam up for fear of sounding silly. So, it is important to build up their confidence and create a positive and productive relationship with the doctor. Arranging for regular checkups with a family doctor, for instance, can normalize medical visits. It can also encourage your child to build a trust relationship with their doctor, so they are more likely to talk about their health concerns. Many dangerous conditions can be prevented and avoided if they are caught early!

Prevent vitamin deficiencies

Here are some alarming facts about our diet. Over 9 in 10 Americans have vitamin deficiency, including a lack in potassium, calcium, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium. Vitamin deficiency can lead to mild to severe anemia and disruption of normal body functions. Some individuals can even experience extreme symptoms such as personality changes, mental confusion, and irregular heartbeats. Severe anemia can have dramatic impacts on your health.

Unfortunately, vitamin deficiency is a frequent occurrence because the nutrient intake in fresh produces has dropped over the last century, some cooking processes remove nutrients, processed food is low in vitamins and minerals, etc. Bringing supplements and multivitamins for teens can make a big difference!

Teach them normal portion sizes

According to researchers at the Human Nutrition Center, 92% of US restaurants serve oversized portions. It is no wonder that obesity is increasing alarmingly in the United States as people become unable to recognize standard portion sizes. As a population, we eat too much. Yet, it’s not out of gluttony but a lack of understanding. Therefore, the sooner you educate your kids about portions and macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat), the earlier they can make an informed choice about their food.

Make sports a family activity

Kids embrace more and more a sedentary lifestyle because they learn by observing their parents. Therefore, making physical activities a part of your family routine starts with us, parents. It could be simple things such as planning a ball game every weekend together or going for a run before breakfast with your teen. There is no need to overdo it. What matters is that you show your child that being active can be fun and beneficial.

Some of the best activities you can try as a family, regardless of your fitness level, include:

Cycling
Hiking
Tennis and basketball games in your backyard
Zumba classes

Parents have a responsibility to prepare their kids for the future. Showing them the best way to manage their physical and mental health early can prevent many issues that can be aggravated through poor lifestyle choices.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Parenting

The Complete Guide to Fatherly Activities to do with Your Kid

06/08/2022 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There is a lot of pressure on fathers to live up to their traditional roles as providers, protectors, and moral guides. But there are many ways fathers can be involved in their children’s lives. Research has shown that fatherly activities such as reading books to their kids, playing with them, and teaching them new things have positive effects on the child’s development.

Plus, who wants to be a boring dad? Old TV shows and sitcoms such showing the dad sitting at the table reading the newspaper, and fortunately, these traditional standards are disappearing. Children love hanging out with their dads, Bob, from Bob’s Burgers is a great example of that. So, what are some fun activities that you could do with your little ones? Here are some great ideas!

girl practicing riding on a skateboard, fatherhood, bonding, daddy's girl, parenting

Image credit

1. Role Playing Games

Role-playing games are a great way to develop children’s creativity and imagination. They also help kids learn to take on different perspectives and solve problems collaboratively. Sure, there’s the whole “playing pretend” with your kids such as a house, or tea parties, but why not go beyond that? Being a more active dad can be pretty easy, so don’t worry about doing any role-playing that’s too intensive.

2. Nature Walks and Hiking

Nature walks and hikes are one of the best ways to connect with nature. It can help kids learn about ecology, biology, and history while giving them a chance to explore nature. It’s important for parents to lead by example and show their kids how much they love nature by spending more time outside. Even if you don’t live by any national parks, that’s not a problem either, just take them to the local park!

3. Cooking Activities

Cooking is a great activity to do with children because it helps them learn about food and how they can make it. It also helps them develop skills such as patience, problem-solving, and creativity.

Some fun ideas could include!

-Baking: This is a fun activity for kids to get involved in because they get to measure, pour, mix and see the results of their work.

-Cooking: This is an activity that you should supervise closely because there’s a lot of potential for injury. Children usually enjoy this more when they’re older than six years old.

-Ice cream making: This is another fun cooking activity that’s perfect for summertime!

In general, make sure you pick something that you know they’re going to enjoy.

4. DIY Projects

DIY Projects are a great way to make an ordinary day special. With just a little creativity, time, and patience, you can create crafts that will make your children feel like they are the most important people in the world. There are many different DIY projects that can be done with kids. Some of them are fun and easy while others might take more time and patience. It all depends on what you want to do with your kids and their interests. But getting them to feel handy can certainly make them proud of themself!

5. Training/Sports Related Activity

A classic fatherly activity would be tossing the pigskin. You could even watch sports together with your little one, and maybe even read up on a game from Stephen Troese Jr’s website. Sports can be a great way to bond.