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As technology has advanced, so has sedentary lifestyles. Childhood obesity is a growing issue as more kids prefer to play with their tablets and phones rather than go outdoors with their friends. Learn how you can support healthy lifestyles by starting when your children are young.
Playing During Childhood Supports Healthy Lifestyles
Appropriate playtime activities for children allow them to make neuron connections in the brain from the earliest age. Provide tangible toys, such as blocks or animal figurines, so that they can refine those motor skills, for example. As children enter the toddler years, these motor skills can translate to playing with other children. Clapping games, singing, and dancing with other toddlers during play dates is a clever way to combine motor and social skills.
As children enter the elementary years, playing is a critical way to make friends and feel accepted into social circles. Playground games, from four-square to basketball, offer rule-driven fun that keeps everyone engaged. From handling blocks to competing in elementary-age ballgames, all of these activities require both mental and physical movements for a healthy lifestyle.
Supporting the “Go Outside and Play” Strategy
Children need to get outside more because it teaches them valuable skills for a healthy lifestyle. By riding a bike or skateboard, children learn to balance and navigate the roads near their homes. By being outside, the children encounter neighbors, which allows them to practice their socializing skills. As they meet and play with other kids, the social aspect matures even further.
Also, being outside teaches problem-solving skills. Whether it’s choosing to walk down an alley or turning quickly on the bike to miss a pothole, these simple choices provide mental practice for problem-solving in the future. As a result, confidence grows as these kids eventually make more complicated choices as adults. Overall, a healthy lifestyle demands critical thinking and problem-solving, which starts at a young age.
Stepping Away From Chronic “Screen Time”
With technology ingrained into everyday life, parents must use some creative measures to keep kids engaged without chronic “screen time.” Ideally, keep televisions and other screens out of the children’s bedrooms. This way, you control when they use the devices. Typically, stick to only 1 to 2 hours of screen time daily.
Boredom doesn’t have to be the alternative, either. For example, make the living room a hub for board games, blocks, and other fun activities. Create a coloring hour where everyone draws something they enjoy. Parents must be role models during these days, too. Adhere to the 1- to 2-hour screen time rule. Children will mimic their parents. If you’re engaging in other activities, kids will follow suit. Overall, these practices lead to a healthy lifestyle now and later.
Whether children play on their bikes or bounce on trampolines, any activity during childhood can lead to a healthier lifestyle in adulthood. Preferably, observe the activities that truly please your kids. By encouraging these healthy yet exciting activities, obesity, illness, and other ailments can be avoided in the years ahead. Remember, healthy habits start early!
