4 Healthy Habits Your Kids Must Choose This New Year

A young Indian father doing work out with his kid

The past couple of years were full of unexpected events that affected people worldwide. Many children have developed habits that make it difficult for them to stay healthy. But unlike adults, children are very flexible and can quickly change their habits. Parents, being the ones children look up to, can introduce healthy habits for kids in their children’s lives through New Year resolutions, thus developing a sense of discipline within them.

Introducing new year resolution for kids as healthy habits, for example, can be a big step towards raising resilient children that are ready to take on the world while ensuring their overall well-being in the long term. Usually, healthy children tend to learn quickly, perform better, have positive self-esteem, and develop self-confidence, among other things.

5 Healthy Habits for Kids

Here are five healthy new year resolutions you can introduce to your kids to start the next year on the right note:

1. Limit Screen Time

The most concerning habit that the pandemic has left behind is being glued to the screen. Children are surrounded by gadgets and are completely immersed in the digital world, which can be detrimental to their health goals. As a parent, you can act as a role model and define the limits for screen time for both you and your kids. It is important to involve them in other physical activities like art, reading, and cooking.

To stay healthy, you can:

  • Include your kids in your exercise regimen and see them beat you with their flexibility.
  • Give them chores and reward them when they are complete.
  • Motivate them to read a book. Inculcate reading habits by reinforcing “DEAR time” (Drop Everything And Read) for the entire family.
  • Take them on a weekend hike where they can appreciate the natural world around them.

2. Eat Healthy and Nutritious Meals

Food is important for staying healthy. Instilling healthy eating habits at a young age helps children imbibe it as a lifestyle as they grow up. Setting up a balanced diet with carbs, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats is essential to guarantee their overall development. Additionally, you should limit their consumption of processed food and soda that adds no nutritional value. Processed food is high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. Instead, add veggies, fruits, nuts, dairy products, and healthy fat to their diet. Include protein powders that provide nourishment and work as immunity boosters.

Some easy ways to make kids develop healthy eating habits include:

  • Allowing them to participate in cooking and explaining the advantages of eating healthy food.
  • Making the meal colourful. Kids love colours, and adding colourful vegetables and fruits to their meals makes the food healthy and enjoyable.
  • Enquiring about their favourite vegetable, fruit or dairy product and including it in meals.
  • Enjoying meals together. Kids tend to develop healthy eating habits when they see it happening around them.

3. Maintain Good Hygiene

Personal hygiene forms the foundation of a healthy lifestyle for children. Children are prone to infections as they usually skip hygienic practices in light of outdoor play and general fun and games. Although it is not 100 percent possible to avoid germs, hygiene is essential to healthy living. Encourage kids to follow good hygiene practices like the following:

  • Brushing teeth twice a day 
  • Washing hands regularly (especially before eating anything and after using the toilet) 
  • Bathing regularly 
  • Trimming nails and covering mouth when coughing or sneezing using elbows or handkerchiefs 

You can promote hygiene in their lives by sharing the benefits of personal hygiene, such as how keeping tidy can help them avoid common flu and boost their confidence. However, keep this in mind that only talking will not help develop healthy routines for kids; you must walk the talk as well and be a good role model.

4. Maintain a Sleep Routine

Ample amount of good quality sleep is essential for children to perform optimally and works as an immunity booster. Setting up a bedtime routine for kids improves their health and overall energy levels. Adequate sleep improves cognitive functions like memory, learning, attention, and behaviour in addition to promoting overall physical and mental health. You can give your kids warm milk with added supplements for better sleep as a part of their winter care routine and develop healthy habits for kids. Reading bedtime stories or journaling about prompts like ‘I am grateful about ___today’ at night can also help you establish your child’s healthy bedtime routine.

Encourage your child to stick to their bedtime routine even during exams or festivities. Make sure they have a tranquil environment to sleep in every night to ensure their healthy habits stick for the long haul.

5. Engage in Physical Activities

Usually, children tend to be more physically active than teenagers or adults and enjoy moving their bodies. Thus, including a set of exercises for your little one to increase strength and flexibility may feel quite natural to them, especially if you make it a fun activity. A child may not necessarily enjoy doing squats or push ups by themselves; however, add fun beats and pop music in the background and see them get excited to move their bodies.

If you have more than one child, you can encourage healthy competition between them by setting goals for each child according to their individual capabilities and rewarding the first one to complete their exercise regime properly. Additionally, if you have a dog, ask your children to accompany you for walking the dog next time, or if they are responsible enough and will be safe, send them to walk the dog. Adding these fun elements can help you incorporate healthy habits for kids in your children’s lives.

Final Words

Kids can have improved mental and physical health if they take up the above points as their new year resolutions. Promoting healthy eating habits with nourishing food and drinks ensures good health. The simplest way to get proper nutrition for growth and development for your kids is by adding Prohance Junior Vanilla, an immunity-boosting protein powder for kids. Prohance Junior is a scientifically formulated nutritional powder with 34 vital nutrients that enhance immunity, provide digestive comfort, and help in faster recovery from injuries.

Get the advantages of the best nutritional supplement for your children’s growth and make them future-ready with Prohance!

Disclaimer: This blog/publication/editorial/article is meant for awareness / educational purposes and does not constitute or imply an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of any Products. Please consult your doctor/healthcare practitioner before starting any diet, medication, or exercise.

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