Naturally, parents always want the best for their children, and one of the most important things is their physical and mental health. With our busy schedules and sedentary lifestyles, it’s hard to ensure our children get enough exercise and mental stimulation. However, it doesn’t have to be a challenge.
1. Encourage outdoor activities
It’s important to encourage our children to play outside and engage in physical activities, such as running, cycling, and swimming. These activities help keep them physically fit, boost their immune system, and combat obesity. Outdoor activities also help reduce stress and anxiety, enhance creativity, and boost confidence.
2. Engage them in sports
Enrolling your children in sports activities is a great way to keep them physically fit, but also has mental benefits. Sports teach discipline, teamwork, leadership skills, and help build self-esteem. Additionally, sports offer children the opportunity to make friends, develop social skills, and broaden their exposure to new ideas and cultures.
3. Encourage healthy eating habits
It’s essential to ensure your children have a balanced and healthy diet. That’s because if kids have a poor diet consisting of processed “food,” for example, that inflames the body, creating challenges with how we regulate our hormones, and therefore our emotions and behavior.
Encourage your kids to consume nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and protein with healthy fats. Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and fried foods, which can contribute to obesity and other health problems.
4. Promote good sleeping habits
Quality sleep is essential for your child’s physical and mental health. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, children aged six to 12 years require 9-12 hours of sleep a day. Ensure your child has a consistent sleep routine, remove electronic devices from their room, and avoid caffeine before bedtime.
5. Limit screen time
American kids spend many hours a day using screens and social media. From the violent images they see while playing certain video games to the negative effects of comparing oneself to others on social media, too much screen time can be detrimental to a child’s mental health. Plus, another reason to limit screen time is the blue light is stimulating, making it hard to shut down at bedtime.
6. Get them adjusted
Chiropractic care helps kids unwind the patterns of stress and tension present. Safe, affordable and effective, chiropractic care is one of the best ways to keep your child healthy—physically and mentally.
Moving Forward on a Healthy Path
Our team is passionate about helping kids and entire families build health and maintain it. Contact Clear Chiropractic today to book an appointment.