by Katarzyna Radzka

Created on: September 19, 2010

Parents should do everything in their power to encourage their children to be healthy. Health is a term that is often overused and misunderstood. What exactly does being healthy entail? Eating fruit and vegetables is the obvious one. Getting some exercise everyday too. But there’s also all that time in between the vegetables and exercise.

The first thing parents can do to encourage children to be healthy is to set an example at home. They can’t expect children to be healthy if the lifestyle at home leaves a lot to be desired. Encouraging children to be healthy may seem difficult in today’s fast food loving society but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Parents aren’t obligated to introduce their kids to junk food at an early age nor is there ever a need to be eat burgers and fries for dinner three times a week. Healthy parents are more likely to have healthy children.

Exercise is a part of being healthy and something children should learn early on. Parents can encourage their children to exercise by getting them involved in physical activity from an early age. Even when your child is a toddler you can take them for walks in a stroller or sign them up for swimming class to introduce them to the satisfaction and joy of exercise. Keeping them away from the computer screen and television will help too.

Praise your children regardless of their athletic abilities. They don’t have to always come first in school competitions, nor do they have to be the fastest runner or kick the ball the strongest. It’s not the position but the joy from the activity that counts the most. If your children will reap satisfaction from school sports and other active pursuits they are more likely to be healthy.

Unfortunately, most parents don’t consider their children to be unhealthy or don’t notice when their children’s weight begins to spiral out of control. Parents should seek their family doctors advice and opinion annually about the health of their children to help them control eating habits and make a stronger effort to encourage them to be healthy. If parents do this, then with time the world obesity rate can be reduce. Children will grow up to be healthy adults, the economy won’t be so burdened with the costs associated with obesity, and future generations can have a better quality of life than today.

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