Having children is a huge responsibility and a big part of that is knowing how to support your kids health.

That means educating them on how to make better decisions for their own health and wellbeing.

It means taking an holistic approach to your kids health that embraces physical, mental and emotional care.

And it means looking beyond the established pillars of health such as diet, fitness and getting enough sleep by considering factors including managing screen time and fostering healthy relationships rather than bad ones.

Here are some common as well as lesser known ways parents can support their kids health.

Lead by example

Being a great role model is one of the most powerful ways you can have a positive impact on your kids health because it happens subconsciously.

Children don’t always respond to lectures or rules well.

But by seeing their parents adopt healthy practices, they are more likely to follow suit without even considering otherwise.

That includes acting calmly when under pressure or dealing with setbacks.

Eat a nutritious, balanced diet

Focus on whole foods including fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains to support your child’s growth and development.

Encourage drinking plenty of water to maintain hydration rather than sugary soft drinks and sports drinks.

Limit sugary and processed foods that contribute to obesity, mood swings and may trigger diseases like diabetes.

Cook healthy meals from home and teach your kids the basics of cooking.

Expose them to a wide variety of foods from a young age, making them less likely to develop aversions to particular ones, especially vegetables.

Promote physical activity

Learning to not just accept but enjoy physical activity from a young age is the best way to lead a long and healthy life.

Kids should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily, be it through sports, cycling, dancing or simply outdoor play.

Involving the whole family in fresh air pursuits such as tennis, hiking or biking sets a great positive example.

Encourage breaks from long periods of sitting by doing some stretching, walking or even simply standing.

Get enough sleep

Kids need more sleep than adults – normally between 9-12 hours for young children and 8-10 hours for teens.

Help them to establish a relaxing pre-sleep routine like reading or dimming the lights.

And help them understand why screen time immediately before bed is not a good choice.

Screen time

Excessive screen time of any sort eventually affects sleep, mental and ultimately physical health.

It can lead to poor head and neck posture, behavioural disorders, myopia (nearsightedness) and dry eye syndrome.

Kids under 12 should be limited to no more than an hour’s recreational screen time daily with teenagers restricted to two hours.

Teach connection, mindfulness and basic manners by precluding screen time at the dinner table.

Use parental control measures to monitor and safeguard your kids online activities.

Encourage emotional intelligence and mental health

Encourage your kids to talk openly about their feelings, emotions, frustrations and fears.

Teach them coping mechanisms to handle stress such as breathing exercises, journalling or mindfulness practices.

Watch for any changes in behaviour, mood or academic performance that may signal mental health struggles.

Promote social connections and healthy relationships

Playing team sports, joining clubs or engaging in other group activities is one of the best ways to make new connections and build relationships.

Teach your kids to have respect for others and show empathy to foster positive relationships and become more liked by their peers.

Explain to them that excessive screen use ultimately leads to isolation at the expense of real-world experiences.

Enjoy activities for real rather than virtually!

Teach them about oral health

Establish good oral health practices that include brushing teeth twice daily, flossing daily and visiting a dentist regularly.

Sugary foods and drinks are the primary cause of cavities and limiting them significantly reduces the likelihood of requiring multiple fillings.

Practise good hygiene

We all have that friend who we’ve caught not washing their hands after coming out of the toilet.

It is pretty disgusting, especially when they dive back into the potato crisps.

Teach the importance of good hygiene and regular hand washing to your kids, especially when leaving the bathroom, eating or preparing food.

It helps prevent the spread of nasty bacteria that trigger a range of illnesses including food poisoning.

Support healthy posture

You only have one back and it can be particularly difficult to remedy when subjected to years of poor posture practices.

Teach your kids the importance of good posture including sitting with a straight back, shoulders relaxed and feet flat on the floor.

Encourage them to take regular breaks after sitting for long periods of time.

Teach them too about the importance of not overloading carry bags or backpacks and how to lift weights without straining their back or stomach muscles.

Book an appointment

When it comes to your kids health, there is so much more to think about than just the basics of eating and sleeping.

We all want the very best for our kids but sometimes, our busy lifestyles get in the way and we forget to make the time to teach them what is really important in life.

These are life lessons which help shape the person your child will become and in turn, their children.

Seeking dialogue, feedback or advice about ways you can improve your kids health is one of the most positive actions any parent can take.

The professional and friendly GPs at AHA Clinics are all well versed in children’s health and many of them take a special interest in paediatrics.

Alternatively, you may have a particular worry about your child’s health, perhaps regarding their eyesight, mental health or how to better limit their excessive screen time.

Whatever your concern, there is no better place to solve it than at AHA Clinics.

Book an appointment here today at either our Seaford Road Day and Night Clinic or our Seaford Meadows Day and Night Clinic.