HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS EARLY IN LIFE!

You can help your child develop healthy habits  early in life that will bring lifelong benefits.  As a parent, you can encourage your kids to evaluate their food choice  and physical activity habits. Here are some tips and guidelines to get you started. Be a good role model  - You don’t have to be perfect all the time,  but if kids see you trying to eat right and  getting physically active, they’ll take notice of your efforts.  You’ll send a message that good health is important to your family.   Keep things positive  - Kid’s don’t like to hear what they can’t do , tell them what they can do instead.  Keep it fun and positive.  Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done.  Celebrate successes and help children and teens  develop a good self-image.

• Get the whole family moving
•  - 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.
   
• Be realistic
•  - Setting realistic goals and limits are key to adopting any new behavior.
•  Small steps and gradual changes can make a big difference
•  in your health over time,
•  so start small and build up.
   
• 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.
•  Limit screen time to 2 hours per day.
   
• Encourage physical activities that they’ll really enjoy 
• - Every child is unique.
•  Let your child experiment with different activities
•  until they find something that they really love doing. 
• They’ll stick with it longer if they love it.
   
• Pick truly rewarding rewards 
• - Don’t reward children with 
•  tv, video games, candy or snacks for a job well done.
•  Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.
   
• 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 your 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.
   
• 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.
   
• Stay involved 
• - Be an advocate for healthier children.
•  Insist on good food choices at school.
•  Make sure your children’s healthcare providers
•  are monitoring cardiovascular indicators like
•  BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol. 
• Contact public officials on matters of the heart.
•  Make your voice heard.