Parenting is no walk in the park; however, the close bond of love and care one develops always compensates for everything.
While, on the one hand, nothing can be more fulfilling than raising children into happy and healthy adults, the process requires prolonged effort and can be emotionally and physically draining.
Most parents are highly cautious initially but soon become lax about household rules and less vigilant in monitoring their children’s lifestyles.
For working parents, it is all the more challenging. After all, who has the energy to strictly monitor their children after a hectic day at work?
However, do not forget that you are almost entirely responsible for your children’s habits and their ultimate future.
If not for the proper guidance and support, they might not be able to develop a healthy lifestyle that would have ensured a prosperous future.
Give your kids time and invest in their lives so that they grow up having strong mental well-being and develop healthy relationships; show them you care.
The following are some handy tips to help you in childcare:
- Frequent medical check-ups are crucial
Children, especially young children, are more vulnerable than adults to catching infectious diseases, primarily because they are not yet fully vaccinated, and their immune systems are not as efficient in recovering from illnesses.
Regular medical screening will allow you to quickly catch common illnesses like whooping cough, meningitis, measles, chickenpox, etc., and treat them promptly.
Also, it is only through frequent check-ups that you can identify chronic illnesses like epilepsy, asthma, or diabetes in time for effective treatment.
Also, look for symptoms that might correlate with birth injuries; for instance, a cerebral birth injury can lead to epilepsy later in life.
If you suspect birth injuries, seek the assistance of a Birth Injury Justice Center to investigate the matter further.
Often medical negligence can injure the infant before, during, or after delivery, and you have the legal right to file a lawsuit against the organization and seek compensation.
- Focus on your own mental health
Research has proven that happy parents have happy children. A child’s relationship with their parents is the core factor in ensuring healthy future relationships and promoting sound mental health.
Parents who are negligent, distracted, stressed out, and inattentive towards their kids foster feelings of mistrust and insecurity in their children.
Mothers, in particular, when stressed out, tend to impact their children negatively. Therefore, looking after your own physical and mental health is as important, if not more, as it is looking after your child’s.
- Don’t let them skip breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While it can be challenging to prepare your children a healthy breakfast during the hassle of getting them ready for school and preparing to go to work yourself, remember not to skip it out of your routine altogether.
Research proves that children who eat breakfast have better overall health, stay physically active, and maintain a healthy weight. Breakfast is the power meal that kick-starts the day and energizes the kid for a busy day at school.
Interestingly, breakfast fuels not only the body but also the brain;it’s rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and protein will improve attention and memory.
To make a healthy breakfast a routine, you can keep your kitchen loaded with healthy food options, prepare most of the meal the night before, wake up earlier than usual, and allow your kids to plan and prepare their meals.
- Don’t let them laze around during the day
Move off the bed and out the doors; staying inactive and dozing around the house will only create various health problems.
Research has proven that children who watch television for more than two hours have impaired school performance, gained weight, irregular sleep patterns, and exhibited behavioral difficulties.
Get your kids off the couch and into a routine physical activity. While your kid might dread gym class at school, remember that there are several other enjoyable activities that you can include in your routine to make your children physically active.
If you live in a cold region, go skiing or snowball fighting. Get your kid a cycle and take them out to the park, or enroll them in a swimming class. Let them decide which activity most appeals to them and make it a routine.
- Enjoy meals as a family
Meal time is the perfect family time. If you find no other time in the day to sit together, the least you can do is share food as a family. At that time, everyone can unite over a common practice, share the happenings of their day, and get time to bond well.
A study showed that children who regularly ate meals as a family were less likely to suffer from depression. They have better mental and physical health and are more closely bonded with their family.
In fact, eating as a family prevents children from using gadgets. Kids who eat with their families also make healthier food choices and lower body mass index.
- Inculcate a positive mindset
Kids during the initial years strive to initiate and complete activities themselves. Of course, failure is inevitable because of their limited abilities; make sure your kids don’t get discouraged and lose confidence when things don’t end up the way they want.
Foster in them resilience so they can take on life’s setbacks with courage and positivity. Positive thinking is a potent coping tool that helps your child get back on their feet after failure.
- Make regular reading a habit
Reading skills are crucial throughout school life and later on. Work on your child’s reading abilities since early childhood. A bedtime story, family story time, and reading activities should all be a routine.
Interestingly, reading and listening to stories not only develop a child’s language ability but also encourages creativity. In fact, a study proved that reading activities influenced later social interactions. It also promotes cognitive development, influencing how they perceive and relate to the world.
In short, reading is a powerful, influential, and rewarding activity that fosters the bond between the parents and the child.
Final words
As parents, you are best positioned to foster in your kids a healthy lifestyle to ensure a prosperous future, and your choices will have long-term consequences for them.
In addition to your guidance, your behavior itself is a model to them. Trainthem in healthy habits; go for frequent medical check-ups, never skip breakfast, keep them active, share meals as a family, and promote positivity.
This way, they will develop into healthy and mentally sound adults who can easily take on life’s challenges.