By Alison Crane
Did you know that one of the best ways to encourage healthy choices in children is to model those choices as an adult? Parents, older siblings, teachers, and other role models can help kids and teens make healthy choices by simply engaging in healthy behaviors like eating nutritious foods and being physically active.
In addition to making healthy choices themselves, there are many ways adults can be role models for positive behaviors like physical activity. Take the simple steps below from Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kohl’s Cares to encourage youth physical activity while being a super role model!
- Communicate positively about the various benefits of physical activity, such as improving sleep, increasing academic performance, preventing illness, and strengthening social connections.
- Demonstrate and encourage physical activity and behaviors that safely support an active lifestyle with and in front of others. Participate in physical activities with the family such as walking or biking together.
- Plan and set goals for physical activity. Track physical activity on a chart (Family Activity Chart by Alliance for a Healthier Generation) or calendar. Reinforce progress with healthy rewards such as a special family outing or the opportunity to win a prize.
- Encourage community physical activity. Parents and family members can encourage physical activity for their children outside of the home by joining wellness committees, volunteering for active events like a Family Fitness Night or Fun Run, and asking how physical activity facilities such as gyms and playgrounds can safely be made available to the community outside of school hours.
- Avoid linking physical activity to discipline. This includes things like taking away recess at school, grounding a child from an athletic competition, or making kids/teens run laps. If physical activity is taken away or used as a form of discipline, kids will associate it with negative feelings like guilt, anger, or fear and will no longer enjoy being active.
On average, it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic… so start making good choices now. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits and serving as a role model to your family and community members will help you and others improve personal wellness!
All during August, National Wellness Month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines. Research has shown self-care helps manage stress and promotes happiness. Striving to create a positive, healthy lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same is a good way to focus on wellness. Contact the Garland County Extension Service at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu for programs and resources available to help your family find healthy routines.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
{Catch up on past articles by Alison at thespringsmagazine.com/category/health-wellness/crane/.}
