A lot of parents are now trying to find help not only on how to build self esteem and confidence but more so, about promoting overall wellness in their family. With the fitness crisis going on in our country today, obesity rates have tripled in the last thirty years, physical education classes are being removed from public schools, and more and more children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, contributing to the rising rates of unhealthy children with low self esteem. A growing number of parents are now starting to alter their lifestyles to prevent being included in these statistics.
Here are some tips on how you could promote an active lifestyle, and wellness in your family.
- Make family gatherings about bonding, and not just about food. A systematic training for effective parenting article suggests to plan some activities and games, to keep the family busy. Meet on places where you all can be active like the beach, park, pool, field, etc., that way, you keep eating from the only thing that you do.
- Partner up with a professional. Children sometimes are more willing to follow suggestions or advice if it’s coming from a professional or authority, i.e. their pediatrician. So on their next visit, see if their doctor can give them some valuable fitness and wellness advice.
- Be active together! Walk, hike, bike, and enjoy the sun. Take the stairs. Dance, play, and be silly! There are a lot of things you can do as a family without resorting to television and video games.
- Limit your children’s time for television, computers, and video games. However, you could use these as fitness tools. Fitness DVDs like YogaKids, FitKids, and video games like the Wii games, and dance revolution, make exercise fun. Be sure their still following their time limit, though.
- Educate yourself on wellness, and raising fit families. Share and talk about it with your kids. Make them understand the benefits they would get in the long run if they make taking care of themselves their priority now. Never assume your kids already know this. Give them the facts!
- Lastly, in my articles, and in my parenting course website, I have always been emphasizing how imporant it is to be a good role model to your family. If we expect our children to take wellness seriously, we need to lead by example and incorporate the changes into our own lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, being active, doesn’t just start at home, it starts with YOU. One of my favorite qoutes from Gandhi says, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
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