An individual’s physical, mental/emotional and social health are equally important and all these contribute to his/her well- being. As parents, it is important to foster this in children from an early age.
Through being good role models for children and by developing positive thinking and behaviour patterns in them, parents can improve their child’s well-being, as well as teach them lifelong lifestyle habits.
Here are some practices that you as a parent can adopt to improve your child’s well-being.
Keep Your Child Physically Active
- Ensure that your child is physically active for at least 1 hour daily.
- Choose activities that suit your child’s age and stage of development. (e.g. skipping ropes, jumping, dancing on music, stretching etc)
- Keep your child’ s bedtime and rising time consistent.
- Make physical activity part of your family’s daily routine by taking family walks or playing active games together.
Help Your Child to Maintain Emotional/Mental Well-Being
- Spend quality time with your child. Engage him/her in meaningful activities to cut down boredom for e.g. read together, exercise, play board games, etc.
- Make him/her learn new things like solving puzzles, quizzes, simple household work etc.
- Encourage him/her to pick up a hobby like dancing, reading or making craft.
- Encourage him/her to say in contact with their friends, cousins or loved ones.
- Make sure that your child has time away from screens every day and spend time doing off-line activities together.
- Help you child find positive ways to express feelings such as fear and sadness.
- Listen to your child’s concerns and try answering his/her queries. Give him/her attention and reassure that it is ok if he/she feel upset.
- Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Watch for behaviour changes in your child and talk about the same. Avoid getting irritated, being harsh, instead make him/her understand the right way to do things.
Improve Your Child’s Immunity with A Nutritious and Balanced Diet
- Make him/her eat a variety of food that includes a mix of cereals or wholegrains like wheat, maize and rice, lentils, pulses and beans, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables including leafy greens, fibre rich food, nuts and some foods from animal sources e.g. meat, fish, eggs and milk.
- This will ensure that your child will receive immunity boosting nutrients like vitamin A, B complex, C, D and minerals like zinc, selenium and iron which will help them to prevent, fight, or recover from infections.
- Ensure your child drink plenty of water as good hydration is crucial for optimal health.
- Avoid giving your child packaged, processed food or junk food as it negatively affects health.
References
- https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/mentalhealthchildrean.pdf accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/for-parents.html accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-health accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---healthy-diet accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html accessed on 25th June 2020
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/nutrition-and-immunity/ accessed on 25th June 2020