Top Parenting Bloggers Discuss (14): How to Keep Your Kids Healthy

Annie – PhD in Parenting

We try to offer them a balanced diet and in the event that they do not take us up on that offer, we offer vitamin supplements and keep encouraging (but not forcing) them to try new foods. Our daughter eats an excellent variety of foods, whereas our son is as meat and potatoes kind of guy.

We ensure that they get lots of fresh air and exercise, which is critical to both their physical and mental health.

We encourage them to think through problems and to address their emotions, which helps keep them mentally healthy.

Ria Sharon – My Mommy Manual

Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. I am a big believer that their growing bodies and brains really need sleep to develop. It makes a big difference in their temperament and in staying healthy. And of course, healthy food, vitamins, exercise.

Richard “RJ” Jaramillo – Single Dad

We all cook together…

Sue Scheff – Sue Scheff Blog

Purell Hand Sanitizer. Kidding, sort of. However, hand washing has to be taught from a young age and carried into their teen years. Teaching your children not to share drinks and other items that go from mouth to mouth can help.Some parents believe in vitamins. That is a personal decision. I used them when my kids were younger, however we eventually stopped.

Susan Heim – Susan Heim on Parenting

I encourage plenty of outdoor play, monitor their eating habits and make sure they get plenty of rest. It sounds pretty simple, but diet, exercise and sleep really are the “big three” in keeping our kids healthy!

Annie Fox, M.Ed. – From the desk of Annie Fox

Know what they need in terms of nutrition, sleep, activity, intellectual and creative stimulation, social skill-building and… a stable nurturing family life.

Then do your best to provide what you can.

Maria Melo – Conversations with Moms

Encourage them to play outside as much as possible and limit their time in front of the TV. I play music around my house a lot and have fun dancing with my children. I also try to teach them good eating habits and although I allow them to eat the occasional junk food, I try to teach them about the importance of balance in their diets.

I’ve been lucky in that my oldest son has a dislike for soda drinks, probably because it is non-existent in my house. Our drink of choice at home is water.

Ronit Baras – Family Matters

We buy lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. 75% of what we eat (by weight) is fruits and vegetables. Our kids just eat what they find in the refrigerator and pantry.

Get a good night’s sleep. On school days, our kids go to sleep between 8 and 8:30 and sleep for 10 hours. My son is nearly 15 and still sleeps 10 hours every day (he dreams up new music…). If they want to stay up, they need to prove they can wake up energetic the next day. If they are cranky, fussy and agitated, it is a sign they did not get enough sleep, so off to bed early they go.

We meditate. We did a Transcendental Meditation course when Eden was 10 and Tsoof was 4. It keeps them focused and alert. Gal and I can tell when they meditate and when they do not. When they are confused, we ask about it and suggest they meditate for a while.

At the first sign of sickness, I say, “Vitamin C to the rescue“. In high dosage (1,500 to 3,000mg a day), I believe it boosts the immune system and keeps them from becoming sick. It works!

Keep them doing something that makes them happy. I help my kids find things that make them happy and encourage them to do those things. Happiness is a great chemical state, whereas stress is the ultimate enemy. Smiling releases good hormones, so get your kids to smile a lot.

I promote being healthy. When we moved to Australia, I found out people stayed home sick if they sneezed, so I made an agreement with my kids that if they stayed healthy for the whole term, they can take 1 day off school whenever they want and have fun with me. It works!

Plant healthy thoughts in your kids’ mind. I tell my kids they are healthy and strong every day. “Tomorrow, you’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep”. When friends say, “I don’t want to bring my son to play, because he is sick”, I say, “You can bring him, because my kids never get sick” (and they do not!). I learned from a principal who attended one of parenting workshops an awesome trick. When his kids start getting sick, he tells them, “You’re really good at getting better”. I love this! Watch what you say to your kids.