Our kids do as we do, not as we say. In my experience, this is especially true when it comes to developing healthy habits around fitness and nutrition. Our children mirror our actions. If you want your kids to exercise, simply telling them or forcing them won’t suffice.

You need to lead by example and engage in physical activity yourself. The same applies to maintaining a healthy diet and cultivating other positive habits.

We will go over some practical tips to assist you in effectively instilling these healthy habits in your children.

Practical Tips to Instill Healthy Habits in Your Children

For all you amazing mothers out there, who play such a pivotal role in your children’s lives, here are some valuable tips that can make a real difference.

🍎 Model the right attitude

Not only do kids mirror our observable actions, they mirror mostly our attitude and particularly ‘Why’ you exercise or eat healthy.

Everyone’s version of healthy looks and feels different.

Model that view for your kids. It’s not about size, it’s not about vanity, but what is most healthy for their needs or situation.

🍒 Eating with intention

Eating with intention means allowing the space to ask the right questions about food.

*Is this going to give me more energy or is it going to make me feel more depleted?

*Am I really hungry, or am I just eating this because I’m bored?

* Is this fueling my body and my soul?

*How is eating this going to make me feel afterwards?

Being equipped with the right questions, we begin to see the correlation between food-choices, mood, and long term goals in life.

Exploring this symbiotic relationship empowers you to align your eating habits with your broader well-being goals. For further insights into the intriguing realm of cravings, you might find my article “Why Do We Crave Sugar?” a compelling read.

🍉 Making it about quality time, rather than about results, rules and regulations

Bottom line it’s a win-win situation where developing habits where you spend quality time with your kids, that happens to involve exercise, the experience itself will be phenomenal and the results will be much better than if it is forced upon, making exercise about a bonding experience will get everyone excited to just do it!

Having kids of all ages, my older ones like to workout in our home gym/ my studio, some days they go on the 10 rep plan where they drop down and give it 10 push-ups, doing that throughout the day they end up with 100 a day. The younger ones, through kids Zumba, dancing is always a great idea…crank up the music 🎶 and enjoy!!!!

Weaving Health and Joy into Family Life

Incorporating healthy habits into family life not only fosters well-being but also creates cherished moments of connection and joy. There are countless avenues to cultivate health while reveling in quality time with our children. Nature calls with endless options – biking, thrilling hikes, and a mix of activities that bring joy to all ages. Anything as we perceive as fun, they do too.

The magic lies in discovering activities that seamlessly blend health and happiness, making wellness an exciting adventure for our kids. When we prioritize healthy choices while engaging in shared pursuits, we gift them the tools to navigate life with vitality.

How do you share your healthy habits with your kids?

If you’re interested in learning more about our healthy programs to inspire you, do not hesitate to get in touch.

xoxo Ilanit BS, CPT, CNS