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Parents teach children healthy living habitsYour children are watching you. Your actions are speaking to them louder than your words ever will, said Dr. Steve Green, Texas Cooperative Extension child development specialist. And when it comes to developing healthy habits, parents influence their children more than anyone else. "Anyone who has spent time around children understands that they are very observant, even at a young age," Green said. "Children watch carefully what others do, and more often than not, they imitate the behaviors of those closest to them." Most of the time, "closest" means their parents. And that means "do as I say, not as I do" is not good parenting advice, he said. To start children on the road to healthy living, begin when they are young. "What happens during those early years can impact children for the rest of their lives," he said. "This includes eating and exercise habits." His advice: --Let your children see you taking care of your own physical health by eating fruits and vegetables, snacking on healthy foods, and exercising on a regular basis. Green and his wife join in the exercise fun with their two small children. "We bought a mini-trampoline, the kind you can use indoors for exercise," Green said. "One person can jump on it at a time. The kids love it and it can be used when the weather is bad outside." Other fun-for-the-whole-family activities include playing hide-and-seek both indoors and out--depending upon the weather--and freeze tag, he said. For a special family treat, the Green family goes bowling. "This is another activity that promotes physical movement. The kids love it," Green said. --Talk to them about healthy habits, in age-appropriate terms--even when it comes to eating their vegetables. "We encourage our children to eat carrots, green beans and other vegetables by discussing their health benefits in language they can understand," Green said. Many of these discussions take place at family meal time. "We eat family meals together five or more times per week," he said. "This gives us a great chance to communicate with each other. We talk about food, exercise and whatever else comes up. "Research shows that families who eat frequent meals together eat more nutritious meals. Related to this, when we prepare our own meals, we don't rely so much on fast food. We encourage our children to help prepare the meals" by helping with simple chores like mixing ingredients and setting the table. But parents need to remember to make sure these family meal times are not spent in front of the television, he advised. --When it comes to encouraging physical activity, show them that running, jumping, walking and swimming can be fun for grown-ups too. "Let your children know that these activities help strengthen their muscles and bones and also help improve their balance and coordination," Green said. "Talk about the positive short- and long-term health benefits of a proper diet and regular exercise, but then show your children that you are serious by putting your words into practice!" --Be enthusiastic about developing healthy habits of your own, and your children are more likely to be enthusiastic developing theirs. "Parents who grumble and complain about physical activities will probably raise children who come to view exercise as a nuisance rather than an enjoyable part of life," Green said. --And be aware of the ways you communicate with your children non-verbally. Your tone of voice, facial expressions and body movements may not agree with what your words are saying. --Make exercise time fun for the whole family. "Ride bikes together, take a walk, go bowling or swimming, or play fun children's games," Green advised. "There are endless ways to engage children in fun, creative and physically active games and activities. Just use your imagination and make it a positive experience for all." In his own family, Green said, "We go on walks together as a family around our neighborhood. I frame it to the girls as 'rock hunting.' Basically, it's a nature hike in our neighborhood where the girls look for interesting rocks to collect. It's a great physical activity and they enjoy searching for rocks and bugs. Sometimes we imagine that we're characters from movies or books." --Don't eliminate technology, but use it wisely. Computers, televisions and other forms of technology are a major part of life in the 21st century. Unfortunately, as use of technology in the home increases, so does sedentary time spent watching TV or playing on the computer. "While there is nothing inherently wrong with such activities, they do take away from time that can be spent in physical activities," Green said. "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children spend no more than two hours of media time per day." In light of that recommendation, he said, parents might want to be aware of their own TV and/or computer time and how that impacts on their children. Try going outside for nature walks instead. Maybe start a family project of rock collecting or bird watching. "Children who typically watch a lot of television may complain when it is turned off, but it is remarkable how quickly they come to enjoy other activities if you offer them alternatives, and do who with an enthusiastic attitude," Green said. For more information on this and other parenting issues, visit the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences website at: http://fcs.tamu.edu. 9/22/08 Date: 9/17/08 Advertisement
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