As parents, we often think of ways to inspire our children to make the best lifestyle choices. Whether it be incentivizing them to choose physical activity over playing their favourite video games, or watching them reach for a chocolate bar rather than fresh fruit, we try to figure out how to be good role models while also giving our kiddos the chance to be independent actors.
Make Chores Fun
Asking your child to help out at home often results in a long sigh followed with a typical “do I have to?”. Here are a few tips that will not only enable your child to look forward to doing chores but also, make them fun!
Make a visual list logging your child’s weekly tasks and hang it up some place where they will frequently see it. Every time your child completes a task, mark it off with a sticker or check mark. Once all tasks are completed, reward your child.
Turn boring cleaning into an adventurous scavenger hunt. This can be done simply by being more creative with daily tasks. For example, rather than asking your kids to pick up all of their toys, switch things up by setting a timer and let the race begin!
Exercise is NOT a Punishment
A lot of us dreaded PE class and still think of exercise to be more like a kind of punishment than a rewarding lifestyle choice. This is not the kind of mindset that we want our kids to carry with them. A great way to implement this is by introducing different kinds of physical activities to your child and letting them decide what they want to do. Some kids prefer competitive sports such as soccer or basketball. However, for those who dread the idea of intense physical activity and prefer something easier to learn with great mental simulation, karate is definitely the way to go.
Smart Snacking
It may seem like your child is always hungry, especially in between meals. As a parent, we want our children to eat nourishing, whole foods. You may find it difficult to convince them that veggies are tastier than their favourite bag of chips, but it is definitely doable. Here are some easy recipes that your kids will love:
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
This is a very simple recipe making it a great way to get your child involved. All you’ll need are a couple wooden skewers and some fruit! To maximize your skewers, use a variety of different colours from red to purple to match a rainbow such as watermelon, orange, banana, kiwis, blueberries and grapes. Be sure to make plenty, because they will go fast
Turkey and Avocado Roll-Up
A turkey and avocado roll-up is a filling and tasty snack that will quickly become your child’s favourite. For this protein filled meal, you will need a whole wheat tortilla, half an avocado and a few slices of turkey. Simply lay out the tortilla, throw in slices of avocado and turkey then roll it up into a wrap.
