Ion Doaga is writes about the principles of a healthy life on his blog, ‘Massage Dreams‘. As a child he was into sports and he believes it was the happiest period of his life. His passion for a life without pills comes from the education that his parents gave him, as they raised him that way. Today he writes about, what he believes are, the essentials to raise a healthy child.
Good health is priceless.
No wonder why people getting to a certain age begin to care about their health, about how they feel and how they look. However, the foundation of a healthy body is established since the first day of a child’s life and as a parent you play an important role in teaching your children the necessary habits to live a healthy life. It’s like planting the seeds that will give fruit their entire life.
Here are a few key principle parents need to follow as their child grows.
Proper nutrition
- To prevent frequent illnesses or recovering fast when the child gets sick, the child must receive the required amount of nutrients on a daily basis.
- A child’s nutrition begins with breastfeeding and as he grows, you can slowly add meat, fish, dairy products, fresh fruits and veggies to his nutrition.
- A balanced nutritional diet needs to be served in an optimal eating regimen. The ideal formula is three main meals and two smaller ones during the day.
- Avoid feeding your child with sweets like cakes, candies, and pies since they lead to teeth decay. Don’t feed them with fast food and sodas to prevent your child from obesity.
Physical activity and active way of life
Movement is life.
- For children of any age physical exercises are very important. It develops their core muscles and strengthens their heart and lungs.
- Encourage your children to move and exercise. Leave them down on the floor, so that they will have to move to his destination. Boys of an older age should play sports, participate in various competitions and play games with other children. Create family rituals and physical activities that you can do together, like cleaning the house, washing dishes, all kind of activities that your children can be involved in.
- In this process children learn more about the movement of their own body, about their creative activities, cognitive abilities and willpower.
- Regular physical activity allows members of your family to develop strength, endurance and thinking.
Respecting the rules of personal hygiene
“Wash your hands before you eat and your feet before you sleep.”
- An important element of a child’s health is – personal hygiene. Keeping your body clean makes you feel healthy and good about yourself.
- A child needs to learn the habits of personal hygiene which includes in itself body care, wearing clean clothing and shoes to maintain a good exterior look, the timely change of teeth brushes and other things of personal hygiene.
Proper regimen of work and resting time
- To work well you need a good rest – this refers to grown ups as well as to children, especially to those at school.
- All family members need their adjusted and harmonious day regimen that makes time for work and rest, regular meals and leaves enough time for a restful sleep.
- A correctly planned day improves health and mood, brings energy and optimism and improves work efficiency. As a result your children will be more successful at school.
Avoiding harmful habits
Children don’t make a distinction between good and bad habits. They mimic their parent’s habits and behavior.
- If mum and dad smoke or drink alcohol, it’s likely that their kids will learn to do the same.
- Harmful habits like smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, disrupt a parent’s life and their children’s too. These parents’ addictions have detrimental effects on a child’s healthy development of their intellect, mind and their social adaptation.
- As a parent think what example you give to your child. Parenting isn’t just a regular job. It’s a lifelong commitment.
Take care of yourself and loved ones – and stay healthy!