Health is something we tend to think about only when we don’t feel 100 percent, or when we get older and the chances of developing illnesses increases. The truth of the matter is that it’s never too early to talk about and think about health and well-being. If you have a son, you want him to go from a confident and active boy to a healthy man. Here are some of the best habits you can encourage from an early age:
Eating well
It’s well-documented that it can be virtually impossible to get kids to eat their greens, but try and encourage your children to eat a healthy, balanced diet from an early age. Around a third of children in the US are overweight or obese. Being overweight in childhood increases your risk of obesity later in life. Obesity is linked to all kinds of health complications, from an elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes to infertility and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The sooner kids get used to trying a diverse range of healthy foods, the better.
Being active
Kids today are less active than ever before, thanks to reduced time for sports at school and the ever-growing popularity of watching TV, playing computer games and surfing the net. Inactivity is incredibly dangerous when it comes to your health. It can elevate the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease and increase your chances of needing cancer treatment later in life. There’s nothing wrong with kids playing on their console or watching a movie from time to time, but ensure there’s a balance. Play games in the yard, go to the park and have a look at local teams and clubs. Playing sports can teach children a host of important life lessons, as well as being brilliant for both their mental and physical health. If your son isn’t the best on the soccer team or they don’t have natural talent in baseball, it doesn’t matter. Keep trying new activities until you find something they enjoy. You could go to a climbing wall, start hiking or cycling at the weekends or take regular trips to the pool.
Talking it out
Mental health used to be a subject that nobody breached, and although there is still a stigma attached to psychological illnesses, we’re more open than we were. It’s beneficial to encourage your children to be open about how they feel from an early age. Bottling up emotions and feelings can be detrimental, and many adults who experience mental health problems do so because they were unable to deal with things that happened during their childhood or adolescent years. You don’t have to organize family therapy sessions, but just let your kids know that you’re there if they need to talk and that it’s ok to admit that you’re not feeling your usual self.
As a parent, all you want for your child is for him to be happy and healthy. If you have a son, there are lots of things you can do to maximize the chances of your boy turning into a healthy grown man. It’s never too early to encourage good habits.
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