4 Ways to Teach Kids About Heart Health

By Brandi Swieter

Heart health isn’t only important for adults. The importance of the heart needs to be taught to children so they can start early with following a healthy lifestyle. If this happens, the risk for heart problems will decrease exponentially. With a few simple ways to teach kids, they can all learn about heart health and get a jumpstart on taking care of their bodies.

Bring Kids in the Kitchen

Too many parents keep their kids out of the kitchen in fear of the messes they’ll make. In reality, kitchen time for kids is highly important, not only to teach them how to cook for themselves later in life but to also show them the variety of healthy options. Children preparing foods using healthy ingredients such as vegetables and fruits will have them more interested in consuming them than if they were simply put on their plates. Healthy foods fuel the heart.

Make Family Time Fitness Time

Though parents should cook with their kids, they should also exercise with them. This doesn’t mean getting out the yoga mats or going for runs. Something as simple as a game of catch outside is a great way to get kids moving and working their hearts. The family should make more time to do fitness-related things together. Take a walk at the park, swing on the monkey bars together, or dribble the ball around and shoot some hoops. There’s plenty of fun ways to incorporate fitness and get the heart working.

Find an Online Lesson Plan

Some parents may be unaware of how to start teaching their kids about heart health. They may not even know the difference for themselves. There are some great lesson plans online that help people show kids the importance of keeping the heart healthy. Parents and children can go over the questions in these plans together.

Teach Them How to Take Their Own Pulse

Although doctors often use equipment that takes the measurement for them, a pulse can also be taken without it. Every person has the ability to take their own pulse by placing two fingers over the wrist and feeling for a beat. By counting how many beats per second within a one minute timeframe, people get their answer. The more beats per minute, the harder the heart is pumping. Show kids how to do this so they can see for themselves how their hearts are working. Many people count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four.

With heart disease on the rise, it’s important for people to start learning about heart health as soon as possible. Parents should be teaching their children how to keep their hearts healthy so they don’t suffer later in life. Risk factors include having family members with the disease, so those parents should be especially diligent about teaching their kids.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Avon, Ind.

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