According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Furthermore, over 340 million children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 were overweight or obese in 2016. Children with obesity are at higher risk of suffering from chronic health conditions and diseases, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, and asthma. Having these facts in mind, you should do your best to help your child stay in shape, and you can do it easily in only a few steps.
Encourage healthy eating habits
The first step in helping your child stay in shape is to balance the calorie intake from their meals with the number of calories they burn when they’re physically active. Make sure your children eat foods that are nutritious enough such as vegetables, whole-grain products and fruit. Include poultry, lentils, fish, beans, low-fat dairy products and limit sugar-sweetened beverages. Also, try to keep the salty snacks away from your children, and don’t teach them to reach for those every time they’re watching TV, because it can grow into a bad habit that will eventually lead to obesity. Instead, offer them healthy treats like apples, bananas, blueberries, or grapes.
Set an example
Parents are the biggest role models for their children, so keep in mind that everything you do, they’ll try to mimic. If, for example, they see you indulging in a glass of sugary drink, they’ll think it’s something they should do as well. The same goes for healthy habits. Once your child sees that you’re trying to eat healthy and stay in shape, it’ll be easier for them to get used to the same idea. Therefore, do your best to be a good role model for your children, and teach them how to stay in shape.
Help them stay active
Regular physical activity is essential for children’s growth, so make sure they participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Instead of driving them to a piano lesson, walk together, and switch from light to brisk walking on your way there. Play soccer with them, or let them have friends over and play outdoors. Playing tag, jumping a rope, and dancing are all great examples of physical activity your kids will love, so feel free to inspire them to do it. Children at young age love to explore and learn what they’re good at, so make sure you encourage them to try interesting sports and activities such as skateboarding. In the sea of quality cruiser skateboards, your child can find the one that they like the best and enjoy the ride. You can even spend some quality family time together outdoors, with you riding your bike and watch your little one mastering the skills of skateboarding.
Reduce sedentary time
Too much sedentary time can wreak havoc on your child’s health. Watching television, surfing the internet and playing video games for too long, is bad for both their eyesight and their development. Therefore, encourage them to spend more quality time with you, or with their friends. Whether you’re going to go walk the dog together, organize family nights, or playdates just make sure your children are not passive for too long.
Praise them
Getting positive feedback from you is invaluable for your children. Knowing that they did something good and that their skills have improved will only motivate them to do even better the next time. Most of the kids are self-conscious about their physical skills, so when you acknowledge their effort will push them to do more. Therefore, make sure you praise your child once they learn how to ride a bike without training wheels, or when they score the goal on their soccer game.
Final thoughts
Staying in shape and keeping the weight balanced is vital for a healthy development of your child. Therefore, make sure you help them stay active, in order to keep them strong and healthy for years to come.
