Keep Your Kids Busy (and Healthy!) With These Tips
By Genevieve Cunningham
Have you ever tried to keep kids entertained? It's a full-time job. It's frustrating and exhausting. For parents everywhere, it's a task that must be undertaken. But parents also know that there are much bigger burdens than entertainment -- like keeping your kids healthy. Health is no joke, and promoting good health for your kids is a challenge that presents many obstacles along the way. So what can you do? You can knock out two birds with one stone. If you're concerned about the health and wellness of your kids, take a look at these ways to keep kids both entertained and healthy in one swift move.
Family Nature Walks
Teach your kids good habits by taking them on family walks through nature. This can help their physical health because of the exercise, and it can also improve mental health because of the time spent outdoors. And as an added bonus, it can help strengthen family bonds and relationships. If you're trying to keep your kids busy and healthy, join them on a nature walk and everyone in your home will likely benefit.
Sports
Sports can be so much fun for kids. If you have the time and a little extra money to spare, try signing them up for a local club or sports organization. They'll get some exercise, learn about teamwork, and engage in socialization. But if you can't manage a team right now, that's OK too. Just grab a ball or a glove or whatever item you need, and go outside to play together. Involve the whole family, and you may find that it's actually a lot of fun. Kids respond well to both sports activities, regular movement, and time with family and friends. Use their interests to help improve their health and habits along the way.
Free Play
One of the best things for kids is simple free play. Set a few safety rules, and then let them play to their heart's content. If you can do this outdoors, even better! The free play time allows kids to use their muscles and exercise (and they will), use their imagination (and they will), and practice real life scenarios in a controlled setting. Even an hour a day can be enough to set your children up for better health and better future success as well.
Keeping your kids healthy is not an impossible task. Sure, it can be challenging. And yes, there are things that will be out of your control. But that doesn't mean you should give up! Use these tips to get your kids moving in the right direction, and they may have better health and habits for the rest of their lives.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pasadena, Calif.