Prevent Common Health Problems In Your Children By Teaching These Habits
If you’re a parent, you probably spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about protecting your children and teaching them how to live healthy lives. Here are five common hygiene habits that you can model for your children in order to prevent future health problems.
Good Habit 1:
Washing Their Hands Frequently
Your children should understand the importance of washing their hands frequently to eliminate bacteria and viruses. Children might forget to wash their hands before they go to use the bathroom, so you can post signs near the bathroom sink or door to remind them. You should also teach your children how to wash their hands so that they cleanse between their fingers and along their fingernails. Children need to wash their hands with warm water for several minutes to eliminate pathogens.
Good Habit 2:
Never Sharing a Hairbrush
Today, head lice epidemics occur frequently in child care facilities and elementary schools, so you must teach your children to avoid sharing a hairbrush or hat with another student. In addition, children shouldn’t sit with their heads touching while working on projects. It is important for children to keep their winter coats, hats, and scarves separated to prevent contamination. Your children should also have the good habit of washing their hair each night at home to eliminate lice as quickly as possible.
Good Habit 3:
Exercise and Eat Properly
Your children can avoid obesity along with the dangers of diabetes by avoiding junk foods and beverages. If your children are consuming whole soft drinks, bags of potato chips, and candy bars, then they are likely eating adult-sized portions of these items. This can lead to excess weight quickly, and more children are being diagnosed with obesity-related diseases on a daily basis. Make sure that your children have the good habit of eating and drinking nutritious beverages and foods.
Exercise is also necessary for promoting good health and avoiding excess weight gain. Both exercise and proper nutrition are essential components of proper health. One without the other is not enough. Grandmaster West has often said that the martial arts are the most effective form of exercise, because of the short-term and long-term goal setting that comes with the belt system. Besides that, it's fun!
Image credit: Avery Family Dentistry
Good Habit 4:
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing primary teeth is important because it helps your children avoid cavities, gingivitis, and halitosis. The bacteria in decayed teeth can infect a child’s alveolar bones, leading to terrible pain. Make sure that your children have a toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste so that they can perform oral hygiene several times a day. Permit your children to choose a toothpaste that has a mild flavor, rather than strong mint flavors. If it helps encourage them to brush and floss regularly, you should also let them pick products with characters and colors that they like. Teach your children how to floss and brush correctly so that they won’t have painful cavities in her teeth.
Good Habit 5:
Getting Enough Sleep
Your children require a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night, and many children need more than this to function optimally. While children sleep, their immune systems are replenished so that they can avoid illnesses such as colds or influenza. Help your children to have good sleeping habits by providing them a comfortable bed in a dark room. Don’t permit your children to have a television or computer in their bedroom, because it can disrupt the brain’s circadian rhythms.
Become a Good Role Model
One of the best ways to teach your young children good habits is through example. Make sure that your children see you brushing your own teeth, eating (and enjoying) nutritious fruits and vegetables, washing your hands, etc. If you want your children to have good health habits, then you should become an excellent role model yourself.
Resources:
https://momsagainstcooties.com/hand-washing-for-kids-5-easy-steps-to-teach-hand-hygiene/
http://www.simpleheadlicesolutions.com/2016/10/7-tips-school-children-avoid-lice/
https://yourkidstable.com/my-child-wont-eat-anything-but-junk-food/
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/teeth-brushing-for-kids-three-strategies-for-proper-technique-0714
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-How-Many-Hours-Does-Your-Child-Need.aspx
https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/modeling-behaviors-you-want-your-children-to-practice/
