Family Connection, Fall 2007

Developing Healthy Habits as a Family

The best place for children to learn about living a healthy lifestyle is at home. The lessons learned can be reinforced at school, but will have the most impact when practiced daily at home.

Families can encourage children to be more active by having them participate in family activities as well as sports. Along with physical activity, there are other important health-related lessons to teach your children -- and to reflect in your own life!

Consider making the following actions part of your family’s healthy lifestyle.

• Cut back on TV, computer, and video game time. Less time spent on these activities leaves more time for movement!
• Take a family walk or bike ride.
• Play with your children. It will be healthy for all of you, both physically and emotionally.
• Make homework a priority. Provide a quiet time and place for doing homework. Talk to your child’s teacher to make sure your child is keeping up with classroom work. (Read our tips on parent-teacher conferences and how to have a good conversation with teachers.)
• Plan to eat a balanced, healthy dinner together as a family. If schedules don’t allow for dinner together every night, make a goal to have at least two dinners together every week.
• Make sure you and your children get enough sleep. Choose a reasonable bedtime that allows for 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night for a school-aged child. (Teenagers may need even more sleep than a young child!)

Our health is an important factor in our quality of life. Children who are healthy learn better, have more positive interactions, and have a better chance for success in life. As a parent, you have a lot of power to provide your children with the basic knowledge and practices they need for the rest of their lives.