10 Best Health Tips for Children

Dhaka, 6 January, 2020: As a parent, an important concern you may have is to develop and maintain the good health of your child. Feeding nutritious food to kids, at proper intervals, is a challenge faced by most of the parents. Starting from food, exercise, sleep, family time, doctor visits to following good manners at school, it is a long list of things that need to be taken care of. Every small activity inculcated right from the start will habituate your child to grow into a healthy being and a disciplined individual.

Top 10 Child Health Tips

You have to take care of your child’s well being at all times. You cannot follow them everywhere. Hence, it is essential to teach them healthy habits to follow for life. Parenting is not easy and requires a fair amount of hard work. To help you in the process, here’s a list of the 10 best health tips for kids.

1. Natural Food and Balanced Diet

A balanced meal is the most recommended diet for every child as it helps in the betterment of one’s health and boosts immunity. You should offer a variety of food options to your kids so that they develop a taste for healthy foods. You do not need to force them to eat anything, but you can offer them a few bites to start with. Also, you should avoid giving them processed food, as they are filled with sugar, sodium, calories, and unhealthy fat. Instead, consider including the following foods in your kids’ diets:

Proteins – Contribute to healthy brain development and immune system of the child.
Basil and Mint – Helps to ward off cold, cough, kidney stones, teeth disorders, and many other illnesses.
Pasteurised Milk – Contains all the minerals and proteins required for healthy development.
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Whole grains
Fibre-rich foods

2. Minimal Sugar Intake

Food and drinks (including energy drinks such as Bournvita or Horlicks), which are high in sugar content should be avoided, especially for kids under the age of 2 years. It may lead to children developing a sweet tooth, causing ailments like diabetes and tooth decay. It may also result in weak bones due to low calcium absorption, caused by excess sugar in the body.

3. Avoid Enforcing the ‘Clean Plate’ Rule

Most of us grew up following the clean plate rule, as we were instructed not to waste food served on one’s plate. But this approach may lead to overeating in kids. It does not allow kids to understand and respond to the feeling of fullness in their bodies. As a result, they do not learn where to limit themselves and stop eating. So, give them plenty of food choices and allow them to pick what they are willing to try and eat. Guide them to decide their intake capacity, and they will learn to eat in limits.

4. Occasional Desserts

You should make it a point to give sweets to your kids occasionally. Do not turn desserts into a reward, or else it may become the main reason for kids to have their food. Also, you should not use food or sweets as a way to show your affection. It can lead them to munch every time to cope with emotions and stress. Instead, you should shower them with hugs and praises.

5. Frequent Meals

Focus on feeding small portions of food to your child at regular intervals, rather than the traditional habit of 3 big meals a day. The two main vital aspects of this habit, which can avoid potential ailments later in life, are:

It becomes easy for the child’s body to digest the small amounts of food.
It will help in maintaining your child’s body weight and keep him fit.

6. Be on the Move

Keep your children engaged and active at all times. Do not let them become couch potatoes. You should set a minimal TV and computer time for your kids. Keeping them away from screens will help them use their time in a constructive manner. Motivate them to spend time playing some outdoor sport or indulge in other physical activities.

7. Getting Enough Sleep

Getting the right amount of sleep is equally important as it is vital for healthy growth and development in young children. It is advisable to habituate your kids to go to bed early and rise early. It will help create a routine for them, which they will be able to follow later in life.

8. Preventing Cold and Flu

Hand washing is one of the essential health tips for children to follow at home and school, that can help prevent the possible spreading of illness among children. Children need to be taught to wash their hands properly before and after eating, and after using the bathroom. You can teach them to use anti-bacterial wipes. They also need to be taught not to share their cups and utensils with friends.

9. Plenty of Water

Some of the most vital functions in our body, like digestion, circulation, and excretion, require us to intake a good amount of water. Besides, water also energises our body and keeps us hydrated through the day. Lacking the necessary amount of water in our body may lead to problems like constipation, dehydration, and even kidney stones. Hence, it is recommended that you habituate your kids to keep drinking water at frequent intervals, to maintain their good health.

10. Kids Follow Adult Behaviour

Kids are prone to follow what they observe on a daily basis. They will most probably follow your footsteps and that of their siblings. Hence, it is highly essential that you try to be a good role model and set the best example by implementing the following tips:

Choose nutritious snacks
Do not skip meals
Eat together at a table

Developing a healthy lifestyle for your kids from a young age can prove beneficial to their well-being in the long run. By following these simple tips, you can shape your child’s habits and get him to understand the importance of being healthy from a young age. It is also essential for the entire family to have a healthy lifestyle as kids learn what they see around them. So, make sure you implement these tips in your life as well.

Posted by admin on Jan 6 2021. Filed under Health, Kids Page, News at Now. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry