Raising a child in today’s fast-paced world seems like a constant battle, but it does not have to be that way. All parents know that different kids have different needs. It is almost impossible to master the process of raising a child, no matter how many children you have. After all, kids are people. They have different preferences when it comes to different aspects. Regardless of those preferences, all parents want to make sure that their kids are healthy and happy. Even an innocent cold or flu can become the worst nightmares of parents. People can only understand that fact once their become parents themselves.
Health is one of the most important factors of life. It allows people to enjoy their life, be positive and acquire as many things as possible. Unfortunately, sometimes colds are inevitable. Common sense tells people that in order to be healthy at all times they need to respect some basic rules. Wear adequate clothes, avoid sick people, wash hands and eat foods that are nutritious. Parenting and nutrition experts share their ideas to eliminate small challenges in child’s life and allow them to grow healthy and happy.
- Let Them Play with Dirt
All parents know that kids absolutely love the idea of running through muddy puddles, playing in the sandbox and getting involved in actions that make them dirty. However, most parents tend to go crazy when they see their kids play with dirt and mud, and that’s understandable. Nevertheless, it has been proven that allowing kids to play in the mud is an important aspect for their health and development. First of all, kids who play with dirt are more likely to be more active and have a good time. Secondly, playing in the dirt is an important aspect that helps consolidate their immune system and reduce the likelihood of developing allergies. Lastly, playing in the dirt means spending more time in the sun and kids need vitamin D to consolidate their immune system and have stronger bones.
- Enforce a Regular Bedtime
Most parents are truly familiar with the nightly challenge; getting the kids to bed and making them stay there. Even though it is not easy, enforcing a regular bedtime is one of the most important things that parents can do for their kids. Children who don’t sleep enough find it harder to control their emotions, becoming more irritable and hyper. Sleep-deprived children are more likely to have trouble focusing on certain elements and learning in school. Bedtime rituals and regular schedules play a vital role in the development of healthy children. As most kids are different, it is good to create a routine that is suitable for your family. However, these tips might help. Keep the same schedule, remove electronics from bedrooms, address issues related to poor sleep and follow through on consequences.
- Teach Hand-Washing
Proper hand washing is a truly important aspect for parents who wish to have healthy kids. Sadly, not many people realize that their hands can keep them healthy. Therefore, to avoid getting sick and spread germs people need to wash their hands properly and teach their kids how to do the same. Even though it might sound like a simple task, washing hands does not mean just rinsing them under the tap for a few seconds. The process starts by wetting them with warm water, leathering with soap, scrubbing for 20 seconds, rinsing with warm water and drying them with a clean towel. To make washing hands more interesting, parents could purchase scented soaps or teach kids songs that they can sing meanwhile.
- Offer lots of Fruit and Vegetables
In order to be healthy, kids need to have five meals a day and a few snacks in between. This factor helps protects against certain diseases, prevents obesity and does not make them grumpy. Unfortunately, kids don’t always love the idea of eating their vegetables no matter how much their parents are trying to convince them to do that. Specialists advise parents to teach their children how to eat different fruit and vegetable. After all, parents are the one who decides what their kids are going to eat. On the other hand, small kids and babies don’t have a choice when it comes to their food. Making sure to pick the right formula is an important aspect for their development. The formulas from Formuland are organic, nutritious and high in fatty acids.
- Apply Sunscreen all Year Round
Everyone knows that when spending time in the summer sun, it is important to wear a hat, apply a good amount of sunscreen and go to the dermatologist to check for all kinds of damage that might appear. While most people know these rules, not many of them follow them. However, sun exposure can have serious effects on the skin at all ages. Children’s skin is especially sensitive and much thinner compared to the one that adults have. More and more parents need to realize that sunburn for kids is a very bad and risky thing. Thus, kids over six months need to wear sunscreen at all times when they’re in the sun. On the other hand, younger babies need to be kept out of direct sun.
- Brush Teeth with Fluoride Toothpaste
In order to make sure that kids have healthy teeth and overall well-being, it is good to opt for fluoride toothpaste. Even mild tooth decay can have a lot of negative impacts on a child’s health. It all starts with poor eating, pain and interrupted sleep. Fluoride is an element that rebuilds teeth and protects the cavities. In order to allow fluoride to work its magic, teeth should be “bathed” in fluoride. Therefore, as soon as kids have teeth, it is essential to brush them twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. People need to purchase this kind of toothpaste because the regular “training” toothpaste does not contain fluoride.
As already mentioned before, raising a child is not an easy task. However, there are tips and tricks are suitable for people who wish to facilitate the whole process.