August 11, 2010 
admin
0Help Your Kids Develop Healthy Habits
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), adults and kids are both at risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. But kids also look to their parents to help them learn to be healthy. Here are a few tips from the AHA to help your family live a healthier life.
- Be a positive role model. Your kids look up to you and learn from your actions. Why should they limit TV time or eat more fruit if you do the opposite? What’s good for your kids is also good for you, so change your habits together.
- Get the whole family active. Exercise and physical activity benefit everyone in your family–young, small (and furry!). Get the entire family outside and go for a walk.
- Limit TV, video game and computer time. It’s not surprising that research shows the more hours children and adults spend doing these activities, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese. Encourage your child to go for a bike ride….and join them!
- Customize physical activities. Not every child dreams of being the next Michael Jordan. Some kids are even considered “non-athletes” because sports don’t come naturally to them and they’re not competitive. There are many forms of exercise besides sports, whether it’s outdoor games, swimming, dancing or cycling. The important thing is to get them moving.
- Be supportive. Celebrate the successes of your child, whether they helped their team win a game or rode their bike longer. Focusing on the positive will help promote your child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Share
