They say that bad habits die hard and that good habits start young. This statement could not be more accurate than for healthy living. That’s why parents and educators need to be aware of good child health habits.The first and most important concern for good health is child nutrition. Remember that the body of a child is always in the process of growing, and growing takes a lot of energy.   

To insure that children grow into healthy adults, it is important to be sure that they are getting all of the vitamins and minerals they need. Many children find it difficult to eat fruit and vegetables that contain these essential nutrients, so it is worth it to supplement their diet with pediatric vitamins that are fun to eat. Supermarkets have great ideas for such products including candy flavored vitamins in the shapes of their favorite cartoon characters.

Your pediatrician can advise you on powdered supplements that are mixed with milk or water. Do not expect your children to eat as much food as you do simply because they are much smaller, and do not worry about pickiness so long as they’re getting what nutrition they need.

The second issue then becomes child exercise and fitness. Your children are not miniature adults, so do not expect them to be interested in lifting weights or doing aerobics unless they’re specifically made for children or the child is old enough to appreciate them. Instead, consider having your child participate in sports that encourage muscle strength and aerobics such as T-ball and soccer. Be sure that your child is educated about health and fitness, and encourage them to play outside with friends. Most outdoor equipment makes it fun to climb, run, jump, and crawl.

These skills will be necessary for later fitness needs as well as daily life in general.Keeping your child active is sometimes difficult, particularly if your child has no interest in sports or social play. Equally difficult is the issue of children with disabilities. In any case, you must absolutely insist that he/she participates in physical activity as much as possible. For kids that do not like sports, consider martial arts or yoga as a possibility.

Hiking and walking may suit the fancy of a child who enjoys nature. Most disabled children want to play the same way as other kids, but adults may be reluctant to let them, and kids may feel uncomfortable with someone who is different. The best thing to do in this situation is to advocate for your child and teach your child advocacy skills as he/she grows older. For every task, there is always a way to adapt it so that disabled children get the full benefits possible, and never feel strange about having your disabled child participate in physical activities meant specifically for them such as tandem biking for blind children and sled hockey for kids in wheelchairs.

As much as possible, cannot and will not should be excluded from the fitness vocabulary. Child health is something that starts from the very beginning. Keeping an eye on the development of healthy habits and staying in touch with your pediatrician are two of the best ways to keep your child healthy and active for later life.

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