Beyond meeting the basic needs, a child’s health and well-being are the utmost preference of every parent these days. Child’s wellness is basically an approach towards the physical, emotional, and mental health. It can’t be achieved without developing healthy habits, routines, and an environment. A mix of a physical, balanced diet, mindful activities, and adequate sleep can do wonders for your child. However, with the busy schedules and digital distractions, parents often struggle to prioritize these pillars consistently, which may affect their child’s overall well-being.
Here are some of the points highlighting how you can nurture your children’s wellness in your everyday life.
1. Start with Balanced Nutrition
The first thing you should do when starting your child’s wellness is to provide them with balanced nutrition. Balanced nutrition includes all the things, such as vegetables, fresh fruits, protein, nuts, and beans. However, these items are not necessarily provided together in a single meal. You should be careful while feeding them. If the children are aged 6 to 13, then you should give them 2 to 3 servings of vegetables, 2 to 3 servings of fruits, and around 6 servings of grains each day to meet their energy and nutrient needs. Besides this, you should keep your children away from sweets and packaged items.
2. Daily Active Play for Healthy Development
Physical activity is the cornerstone of children’s wellness. That’s why you should indulge your children in daily activities like playing or exercising. Exercise can help build strong bones and muscles and improve cardiovascular health. You can involve your children in simple activities like tag, cycling, or family dance sessions, making exercise fun and sustainable. The World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day for children. Physical activities are essential, as they not only keep your child active but they can also improve their overall health, including emotional and mental health.
3. Join Children’s Wellness Programs
Not only do physical health and nutrition matter, but the thing that has a huge impact on their life is the environment they live in. Their emotional health, social skills, and behavior towards problems are also a major part of a child’s wellness. That’s why you should keep them in an environment where they can learn to deal with daily life activities and awareness of the world. This will make them ready for the future. There are some children’s wellness programs that provide your children with the opportunity to learn, develop social and analytical skills. When your child joins such programs, their overall well-being will be boosted.
4. Consistent Sleep for Rested Minds
Adequate sleep is the most powerful thing for refreshing the mind at any age. This is especially important for children. School-aged children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night to function at their best academically and emotionally. You should establish a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule for your children, which helps regulate the body’s internal clock. Proper sleep also helps your child regulate their mood and supports memory consolidation.
