Children in the past did not use much time in front of the television or used iPads. We used to play outside and learn a lot of things. These days children obesity is on the rise, and the reason for it is that our children are now using tablets and mobiles for a longer period of time. They now sit in front of the television and spend very less time playing outside. It is thus important that we recognize this habit in our children and introduce the habit of exercising and staying fit. This article is going to tell you about some ways to become a healthy and fit role model for your children.
- Recognize hunger
You need to recognize hunger. Make it a habit that you do not eat simply when you are bored or when the clock says it’s time to eat. You should eat when you are really hungry. Try to inculcate this habit in your children as well so that they can avoid obesity.
- Get up and move
No, it is not necessary to spend long hours at the gym to stay fit. Staying active throughout the day can help you maintain your normal weight. Today, our children have become couch potatoes. We need to encourage them to go and play outside.
- Limit screen time
In our times, we used to play outside, but nowadays children prefer to stay indoor watching movies, glued to their play stations and video games. Even some children have televisions and computers in their own rooms. This hinders the parents to keep an eye on them as to what their children are doing on the computer or watching on television. It is thus important to keep the television and computers in some common area so that you as a parent can have control over what and how much time your children are spending with these electronics.
- Cook and eat together
When you cook and eat together your children will not only learn the art of cooking, but it will also help them know what healthy cooking is all about. You can also introduce the concept of clean eating to your children. Prefer to prepare nutritious and fresh meals for your children. Prepare and plan in advance what you will eat in the following week so that you can buy the grocery items for it and thus stay away from eating junk food.
- Speak positively about staying fit and healthy
Children do what they see you doing. If you think and acting and that exercise is a chore that you avoid doing. They will also become a bit lazy and will tend to think in the same way in future. But if they see that you enjoy these activities and have fun while going out, running and jogging, they will also look forward to this time when they will go out and talk a walk or play outside. If your children see you doing workout exercises and that they are a part of your routine, they will also follow your steps.