Photo by Yan Krukau
Parents hold a significant role in a child’s life. Not only are they the reason that a child is born, but they are also the ones responsible for shaping the little one’s life. Parents are supposed to lead them down the right path and, most of all, ensure they live a balanced lifestyle.
As children grow up, they need many things. A child’s needs come in various forms, such as answering to their emotional, mental, and physical needs. Regarding a child’s physical needs, Kristina Orliczky wrote an excellent book called “Mona’s Mitten a Story to MOVE to.“
A Sedentary Lifestyle.
In this modern world that we all live in, it can be easy to do nothing when the family is just at home, and by doing nothing, this means that there is a high possibility that most children nowadays just lie down on their beds or on the couch and scroll the day away on their phones. With all the hustle and bustle that everyone goes through on a daily basis, it can be highly tempting to keep being what they call a “couch potato.”
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The term “couch potato” refers to a person who tends to spend a high amount of time watching television and does not have an active life. Today, people use this term more often than desirable because they live a more sedentary lifestyle compared to those in the past.
Thankfully, as with everything else in life, there is always a solution to every problem. As long as people make an effort—especially parents who teach children to live a more active lifestyle—they can truly change lives. Most importantly, with parental guidance, kids can learn to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Here is another good news that you should hear: technology isn’t as the older generation makes it out to be. The key here is to use our resources to our advantage, such as limiting screen time and using it as a means for children to learn. With that said, here are a few tips that can truly be of help in teaching your little ones to live a balanced lifestyle.
According to The Canadian Pediatric Society, it is recommended that children under two years old have zero screen time. Meanwhile, little ones between two and four years old should only have less than one hour of screen time per day. As for kids who are a little bit older, as aforementioned, they are recommended to have less than two hours. Here are a few more tips that you as a parent and/or guardian should take note of:
Seek Balance.
Children learn best when they follow the actions of those who are older than them, which in this case is you, the parent. Show your little ones that you yourself lead a balanced lifestyle. During screen time, you can make it an active time, too, by playing with your family during commercials, getting them up and moving. Aside from that, you should also list down fun activities that shouldn’t rely on screens for entertainment, especially outdoor activities.
Track Screen Time.
It would be best to implement a central spot in your home where the whole family can keep all of their devices, which can be of big help in keeping track of screen time. Aside from that, you should also make a family T.V. show schedule where everyone can watch together and post it where everyone can see it, such as on the coffee table or on the refrigerator. Most of all, make sure that it is a plan that everyone in the house can agree on!
Use Screen Time as a Means for Learning.
While modern technology offers convenience, it also gets a bad reputation due to the fact that most people use it in the wrong way. However, technology can and should be used in the way that it is supposed to be: for learning! With that said, keep in mind that watching and talking about the television shows that you watch together can be of big help in their development. So make sure to choose T.V. shows that repeat ideas to help kids learn, pause and ask kids to join in for interactive learning, and most of all, teach them only one message at a time.
Aside from all that, an impactful example that you should show as a parent is that when another person is talking to you, always look at the person and stop looking at the screen. This way, you are encouraging your precious little ones to do the same. In a child’s growth, parent involvement plays a huge factor.
With all that said, teaching your little ones to live a balanced lifestyle and making sure that they continue to do so requires one thing from you as a parent: commitment. Order a copy of “Mona’s Mitten a Story to MOVE to” today and begin to live a balanced lifestyle as a family!
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