BODY LANGUAGE – By Mary Ann Carlson
Monkey see, monkey do
Our children are our future and if we want them to develop healthy habits, it’s up to us to lead by example. If they see us paying attention to what we eat and how much exercise we get, it will be easier for them to start getting into a healthy routine.
Probably the most important healthy habit we can instill in our kids is our attitude about food. In families who shared just three meals a week together, children were 24 percent more likely to be eating healthy foods than those who ate few or no meals together. The kids were also 12 percent less likely to be overweight, 20 percent less likely to eat unhealthy foods, and 35 percent less likely to get into dangerous weight-loss trends like purging, diet pills, and laxatives… and that’s just from sharing three meals a week! Amazing.
Sometimes, unconsciously, we use food inappropriately as a reward or pacifier for our kids. This teaches them that they can turn to food for comfort when they are stressed or feel bad about themselves. Food becomes the friend they can count on. This is a very bad idea. Help them find other things to make them feel better, something not related to food.
Sleep is not the first thing we think of when discussing adopting healthy habits, but exercise will go by the wayside if you’re tired. Make the idea of sleep a positive to your kids, not a negative. Instead of threatening them with a nap when they are misbehaving, tell them how it will help them grow big and tall. (I always wanted to be tall when I was little.) ( I still do.)
A regular bedtime is helpful and usually makes a child feel more secure. They know the rules. Since everybody is different, collaborate with them in figuring out how much sleep they need so they have enough energy to do all the fun things they want to do.
Last, but not least, being active as a family is a gift you can give to you child that they’ll remember forever. It always makes me smile when I see families in Jacksonville all out riding bicycles or the kids running through the fountains at Doc Griffith park. Children should be getting 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Every child is different, so encourage them to try different physical activities like swimming, dancing, or anything else they might mention. If they finds something really enjoy, they’re more likely to keep it up.
You can’t use the word ‘love’ too many times in a day when it comes to a child. The little monkeys grow up way too fast, so cherish them, love them, and let them know it. The rewards are beyond anything else the world has to offer.
Mary Ann Carlson owns the Pilates Studio of Jacksonville and can be reached at 541-890-7703. Starting March 2, she is offering a New Beginning Pilates Class on Friday mornings. She also has an additional Beginnning/Intermediate Class on Fridays and Intermediate Class on Tuesdays.