During the summer, it’s easy for children to not get the exercise they need since their days become consumed with watching television and playing video games. When they’re hungry of course, they aren’t going to take the time to make a healthy meal or reach for some carrots. They will most likely reach for chips and cookies along with pop that is filled with sodium.
When summer comes, many children, especially teens, want to stay indoors in the cool air conditioning and be lazy. This can be very unhealthy for your children, so what will you do to make sure they are staying healthy this summer?
Set a good example
It’s very important that you show your children you don’t just want them to be healthy and get good exercise, you do it yourself as well. Go for runs, go to the gym and eat healthy. It’s important that your children don’t think you’re trying to tell them how to live their life, especially when you don’t take your own advice.
Just make your kids feel that you have their best interests at heart like any good parent but also warn them of the health issues they can face if they don’t take care of their health. A good start would be some relief from heat so do call the furnace repair San Diego to get your AC repaired as its useful during nighttime.
Outdoor family days
To make sure your children get outside and get active. Make it a family thing. Gather all the kids and yourself and go outside to enjoy the fresh air. Grab a basketball, soccer ball, Frisbee, anything that will keep you all moving around and getting some good exercise.
Buy more fruits and vegetables, less fats and sugars
If you want your children to eat healthy, you have to have the healthy foods available, right? Keep the purchase of junk food to a minimum. You don’t just have to buy fruits and vegetables. There are plenty of good snacks you can buy that will be just as healthy for your children to eat. If your children don’t like drinking water from the sink, buy bottled water. Just remember that they have to eat whatever you bring in the house, so choose carefully when it comes to snacks.
Don’t stop at healthy snacks
Just buying healthy snacks won’t make that big of a difference if you aren’t making healthy lunches and dinners. You can look online for healthy recipes that you can make at home for the whole family to eat. You should look for these before you go grocery shopping so you know what ingredients you need to buy.
Limit the hours of TV and video game use
If they only have a certain amount of time to watch TV and play their games, then they will be forced to find other things to do when they’ve used up all their hours. When they are sitting around looking bored, encourage them to go outside.
Allow them to have friends over
Your child isn’t going to want to play outside if they have no one to play with. Allow them to have friends over often so they aren’t sitting inside alone.
Get them what they need
Your child needs to have stuff to do to keep them active, so if they want a bike, then it’s good to get them one. Be sure you have different types of balls your child can play with, jump rope, roller skates. It’s good to have a variety of items your child can play with outside so be sure you give them options.
If you want your children to be stay healthy and keep active during the summer, you can’t just leave it up to them. As a parent, you need to get involved and help them get off of the couch and outside getting the physical activity they need.
