How to Help Your Child Maintain a Healthy Weight

We all want our children to be healthy and happy. We are also aware of the pressures children face to fit in and be attractive. That can often cause us stress as we try to determine ways to help our children. That desire to help our kids is admirable but it can go too far and cause more problems. Here are ways to help your child in a healthy, happy way.

Treats

Often in our culture food equals love. Home cooked meals and treats of ice cream and candy can help feed that perception. Social gatherings tend to revolve around food with birthdays and weddings celebrated with cake and special occasions like Christmas filled with special meals and treats. This is not a problem. A few special foods a few times a year will not create a weight issue. The concern is how food translates into day-to-day life.

Keep in mind that food treats are fun but shouldn’t be the only way or even the primary way you show affection. Think of other ways to show you care. Good grades or other achievements don’t have to be rewarded with candy or fast food. Try providing fun rewards you child can continue to enjoy. Think about colourful stickers customized with your child’s name like school name tags. Instead of just name tags for school belongings, these stickers could be a reward for your children they can place on their belongings or trade with friends.

Special treats for your kids could also be a trip to the swimming pool or a weekend at the beach. For your kids, simply spending time with you and having your undivided attention could be reward enough.

Keep Active

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is fitness and the habit of being active. Incorporating physical activity into your children’s life is important. This has become more difficult over the years as parents are more concerned about letting them play outside without supervision for safety reasons. Many schools have reduced or eliminated the time children have to play outside or exercise. These means more of the burden for keeping your kids active will fall on you.

Go for bicycle rides as a family. When you ride an electric bike, you can go for a leisurely pace or pedal harder. Match your kid’s pace. According to a study, electric bike users tend to exercise more because they spend longer time on their bikes and cover longer distances. The result is a sweet ride that is not only beneficial for your kid’s health but also a fun bonding activity for the family.  Take regular trips to playgrounds with your kids. Consider signing your kids up to participate in sports just keep in mind that not every child has the right personality and aptitude for team sports. Dance, swimming, martial arts, and cycling are other ways kids can be active outside a team setting. Keep trying options until you find a good fit for each child.

Find Other Outlets

Your children need to be active but not just physically. Art classes, science clubs, and music classes can be other ways for your kids to be active and make new friends. Encouraging a range of interests and friends can help your children be happier and healthier.

Avoid Too Much Focus

Don’t make weight an issue in your household. Focusing on children’s weigh can cause them to be overly concerned about their weight or hurt their self-confidence. Overly restrictive diets can also lead to eating disorders as your children get older. Keep your focus on your child having a fun, happy childhood. Avoid giving them diet drinks. Water is a better option but the occasional sugary drink won’t hurt.

Annual Check Ups

Make sure your children are healthy through an annual check-up. Their overall health should be the focus. Often children who are slightly overweight as some point will lose that weight after their next growth spurt. As long as there are no underlying health issues, eating healthy food and remaining fairly active should keep your children’s weigh under control without causing your children undue stress.