Every child is unique, and although you can't smooth all the bumps, anticipate all the challenges, or defuse all the bombs your children will encounter along the way, you can make their journeys and their lives healthier.
1. Get Stuck in a Rut
Children thrive on routines. Rituals provide them with a sense of identity, stability and consistency as they strive to figure out relationships, responsibilities and their own personalities. Routines also help them understand the importance of setting limits. Involve your children in organizing your family's daily schedule, such as setting regular times for meals, homework, leisure time and bedtime.
2. Gross Them Out
How the human body functions is often a mystery to kids. Take time to explain how the body works when it's healthy and what happens when it breaks down. For example, explain the short-term and long-term effects of taking care of their health and of neglecting it. By providing kids with this information, they'll be more aware of the specific benefits and consequences their actions have on their bodies.
3. Question Them
Parents play an essential role in building their children's communication skills. That's why it's important to ask plenty of questions and listen with interest. Skip the yes or no questions, though. Ask questions that require explanation or description. Listen for details that may be missing and ask for clarification. This allows you to keep tabs on what your kids are thinking, feeling and doing.
4. Show Off
Children learn by observing and imitating behavior, especially yours. Be a day-to-day example of how you want your child to behave. Studies show that parents with the healthiest lifestyles raise the healthiest children.
5. Crack Them Up
Life can get crazy and stressful for kids; laughing can help them cope. Encourage generous amounts of giggling and silliness in your home, and help kids see the humor in everyday events and mishaps. This will help them learn to put things in perspective and better handle the constant stresses of daily life.
6. Bond With Them
Almost all interactions in a child's life are influenced by family relationships. Kids who have close connections with parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives are more likely to initiate social interaction with other kids and with other adults, and are likely to be more confident in all relationships. Also, kids with positive family relationships generally struggle less with depression and peer pressure and have higher self-esteem.
7. Chase Them
Regular physical activity develops and strengthens children's bodies and brains. Plus, it's the best way to prevent weight gain and diseases such as heart disease, cancer and stroke. Encourage your kids to be active by regularly engaging them in games and activities that get the blood pumping. Play tag, toss, kickball or hide-and-seek. Take hikes together in the woods or around the neighborhood.
8. Remind Them
Kids need guidance and gentle reminders about rules, limits and appropriate behaviors. Steering kids toward healthy habits, and reinforcing those habits along the way, will teach them the principles of moderation, discretion, consistency and self-discipline. Over time, kids will develop their own sense of self-control and self-regulation, which will allow them to set healthy limits.
9. Put Them to Work
Research shows that involving kids in chores and projects around the house is one of the best ways to build self-esteem and help kids feel competent. Doing so lets them know that you believe they're capable of handling important tasks, which is an incredibly powerful message for kids. Children who grow up perceiving chores as a normal part of life are more likely to complete their education, get a good start on a career, develop successful relationships and avoid risky behaviors.