Keep your children healthy and happy
Give them exercise!
Run around a lot! It’s fun and it keeps you healthy.
Give them fruit and vegetables
Eat 3 portions of vegetables a day, and 2 portions of fruit.
Train them to wash their hands
Washing your hands after you go to the toilet, and wash you hands before you eat. And wash your hands if they are dirty (like, after playing outside, after sneezing, or after stroking an animal).
Here’s a video about washing your hands:
Train them to brush their teeth
Brush your teeth twice everyday: brush your teeth after breakfast, and brush your teeth before you go to bed.
Here’s a video about looking after your teeth:
Train them to bath or shower
Have a bath or shower a few times a week.
- Establish tech-free zones: Have specific areas or times, like bedrooms or during meals, where screens are off-limits.
- Implement screen time limits: Set daily or weekly time limits and curfews, such as no screens an hour before bedtime.
- Be consistent: Enforce the rules firmly and fairly to avoid confusion and resistance.
- Provide Engaging Alternatives:
- Offer a “special bag” of offline activities: Include toys, games, art supplies, and books for outings or quiet time.
- Promote active play: Encourage outdoor activities like biking, swimming, or sports.
- Encourage creative pursuits: Offer art supplies, craft kits, or opportunities for baking and cooking.
- Explore family fun: Plan outings, board game nights, or other activities that foster connection and engagement.
- Make reading appealing: Have a variety of books, magazines, and activity books available.
- Model Healthy Habits:
- Reduce your own screen time: Be a role model by limiting your own device use, especially when your children are around.
- Engage in offline activities together: Participate in family activities and show enthusiasm for non-screen-based fun.
- Be mindful of background screens: Avoid having TVs or other devices on constantly in the background.
- Make it Rewarding:
- Use screen time as a reward:Link screen time to completing chores or other tasks, making it a privilege rather than an entitlement.
Offer incentives: Reward children for engaging in non-screen activities with small prizes or privileges.
Communicate and Explain:
- Talk about the benefits of offline activities: Explain how physical activity, creativity, and social interaction are good for their health and well-being.
- Discuss the potential downsides of excessive screen time: Help children understand the importance of balance and mindful technology use.
By combining clear boundaries, engaging alternatives, and positive role modeling, you can help children develop a healthier relationship with technology and enjoy a wider range of activities.