Keep your kids healthy by starting these 3 habits

For parents, nothing is more important than the well-being of their children. But as kids grow up, several factors could affect their health such as the food they eat and the activities they do daily, which can eventually form into habits.

As parents, it’s your job to help your children make the right choices, especially those that involve their wellness. It may be easier said than done, but it takes three things to keep your kids healthy:

Let them play outdoors

How many kids do you see playing in the streets nowadays?

A decade ago, children played with other children. But today, patintero on your block or tagu-taguan at home is seldom seen. Instead, kids are often buried in smartphones and tablets.

Inactivity is among the common culprits of childhood obesity—making outdoor play vital to a child’s growth. Several studies show that going outside to play and explore contribute to the wellness of kids, specifically improving their physical, psychological and emotional well-being.

Don’t be afraid to let children go out. Let them discover the world outside their comfort zones.

Hide gadgets at night

You may be guilty of keeping your phone by your bedside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stop your kid from doing the same thing.

In a study conducted for the Public Library Of Science, the sleeping habits of growing kids may be affected by devices if they’re close to them at night. The screens of smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs emit blue light that can throw off the body’s biological clock.

Avoid this by making the bedroom a device-free zone—not just for kids, but for adults as well.

Nothing beats proper nutrition

Food intake greatly impacts children’s health. When you help your kids eat right, you create a healthy eating habit that they can continue until they grow up. Help them skip the junk food and focus on fortified foods that provide complete nutrients for their bodies.

For one, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute recommends parents to fill up their children’s plates with energy-giving, body-building, and body-regulating foods. In its food guide called Pinggang Pinoy, the FNRI endorses three balanced meals and a glass of milk a day for kids to get the essential nutrients they need.

While food choices for children may vary, Nestle Philippines has formulated Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink to give growing kids the important Tibay Resistensya nutrients such as 100% vitamin C and high levels of iron and zinc.

For children to get the appropriate nutritional content of the milk drink, parents are recommended to follow the Food and Drug Administration-approved step to put in three heaping tablespoons of milk in a glass of 200ml water.

Habits are easily formed, so make sure you know how to guide and steer your children towards the healthy path.