Visualize this: It's 10 PM - time to go to bed. After a long day of tantrums, snack negotiations, and endless "why" questions, you finally feel happy to have that amazing little one ready to go to sleep. With all those night prayers, good night, and sweet dream wishes, you are about to leave your kid's room.
And suddenly, a lovely little voice, sweeter than honey, whispers, "Mommy, Daddy, I love you." Oh wow, where did my exhaustion melt? You are now filled with new energy and a deep desire to do everything in your power to make your child the happiest and healthiest person on this earth.
If you have experienced this or something closer, consider yourself fortunate to parent beautiful, lovely kids - An enchanting gift that Mother Nature has bestowed upon you.
Beyond responsibilities and commitments, parenting is a complete bundle filled with love, joy, and, of course, the challenges of life. From making sure your kids eat their veggies right to managing screen time and encouraging positive behavior, every day invites new hurdles into your life. Parents, regardless of their geographical location, education, and financial status, have always prayed and wanted the best for their children—not just in terms of physical health but also in nurturing their emotional resilience, confidence, and overall well-being.
That's where the 8-Step Approved Strategy for Raising Happier and Healthier Children comes into play. This set of proven steps is more than perfection—it's actually about progress. It is also about bringing smaller yet impactful changes into the child's life, ensuring they thrive each day. This strategy goes well with a first-time parent as well as for those with multiple little ones because it offers simple, research-backed techniques that fit into your busy life.
Raising a happy, healthy child is a life-changing experience that begins with mandatory, intentional, loving choices every day. If you are as excited as we are, let's embark on this amazing journey.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, and Healthy Spirit, Ensures Elevated Well-being.
Digital advancements and gadgets have shackled our children, restricting their movement. Hence, it is more important than ever for parents to ensure a balance between physical and digital activities for their children. Like any other machine, the human body needs adequate physical activity and proper lubrication for optimum performance. It is universally acclaimed that active kids gracefully carry a happier and healthier personality, which fuels a sound body and vigilant mind.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines in 2020 on physical activity and sedentary behavior for children aged 5 years and above. In their book, WHO recommends that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to support their growth, strengthen their muscles, and boost their overall well-being.
Click here to download this ebook.
Why limit exercise to being a boring and strenuous chore when it can be fun-filled and rejuvenating? Engage your kids in beautiful activities like running, swimming, cycling, and dancing. These are not just names but fantastic ways to incorporate fitness into your kid's life through daily routines.
Bring celebrations to life with a game of tag in your backyard, a family bike ride with all its pomp and show, or a splash in the cool blue pool water. You will be amazed to learn how these fun exercises develop coordination and teamwork in children, enhance their moods, and even foster focused attention at school.
Regular movement is the key to eliminating stress, tension, and boredom in children. Uplift their spirits to build resilience and confidence while establishing a lifetime of healthy habits.
Don't wait. Get those little feet moving, because an active child is a happy and healthy child.
When the palate and the gut disagree, making your kids eat nutritious meals becomes overwhelming, resulting in a daily battle. Parents must understand that healthy eating for kids shouldn't be a complicated process.
Take a simple approach to meal planning. Let your children consume wholesome ingredients in the correct proportion. It will fuel their growth. Imagine placing colorful plates before your kids that are filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Can you visualize their smiles? The core purpose of having healthy foods is to ingest the right portions of essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins necessary to boost immunity and keep energy levels steady in children.
Packaged and processed snacks can never be fun as they do more harm than good to our bodies. Smart Moms will apply a simple trick of swapping these unhealthy snacks with nutritious alternatives like yogurt parfaits, homemade trail mix, or veggie sticks with hummus, making healthy choices more exciting.
Yes, we heard you right. If both parents are too busy with their professional commitments, there is no need to panic. They can still achieve a quick, easy, and balanced meal with simple overnight oats for breakfast. A turkey and avocado wrap will make an awesome lunch.
Moreover, baked salmon with quinoa would be a surprising dinner that everyone in the family would love to relish. Not to mention, the amazing compliments would continue to flow for the next few hours after dinner.
Nothing can stop a mother from prioritizing her kids' nutrition. She is clearly concerned about supporting the physical development of her children. Sound nutrition in kids enhances their focus, mood, and overall well-being. Little creativity and smart planning make every bite count because a well-nourished child is a thriving child.
Related Blog: Nutrition Essentials For Growing Kids
People were happier when they had little to no technology around them. They could spend time with their loved ones and focus on what was essential. But with screens swamping our lives with their digital hurricane, now is the time to consider reducing screen time and implore your charming children to engage in hands-on, real-world experiences.
Digitalization is great, but it can have negative impacts if used beyond prescribed limits. Excessive use of digital gadgets can traumatize child development, worsening their sleep, attention span, ability to think logically, and social skills.
Being concerned is quite natural, but we have good news. There are several methods to replace digital distractions in children. Attract kids with exciting kids' activities that spark creativity and inspire out-of-the-box thinking coupled with physical movements. Add sparkle to his daily routine with games requiring creative play, like building forts and storytelling. Join him for screen-free fun activities such as outdoor adventures, board games, or DIY crafts. Children thrive when they are close to nature and get a chance to interact with their environment.
Setting healthy screen time boundaries is more of a family decision aimed at the emotional and mental well-being of everyone in the family. Designate mealtimes and two hours before bed as tech-free time zones. Doing so will help you establish a balanced routine for children and adults.
Envision these unplugged moments as engaging and engrossing. These screen-free times work miraculously, helping parents foster their children's imagination, communication skills, and overall well-being.
Related Blog: Balancing Screen Time Minimizing Smartphone Risks For Kids
So, turn off the screens while the imagination is ON.Let these memories blossom into blessings beyond the screens.
Amidst busy schedules, maintaining the child's hydration to its optimum level has always been a challenge for parents all around the world.
Let's have a look at the following:
Proper hydration is equally important in kids as feeding them nutritious meals at regular intervals. More than 70% of our body comprises water. Hence, hydration for kids has a crucial role to play in digesting food, maintaining energy levels, and even brain functions. While you walk down the street with your kids, their eyes won't miss the many sugary drinks exclusively crafted for and marketed to children. These sugary drinks are far from being considered a healthy choice for children. Hence, always insist on making homemade healthy drinks your best choice.
Clean drinking water honestly doesn't have any taste, yet it is the sweetest of all drinks on this planet. With that being said, parents, educators, and caregivers should encourage children to have plenty of water intake. Adequate water levels within the body will help regulate body temperature, prevent fatigue, maintain proper muscular and neurological functioning, and support overall kids' health.
Moms can make hydration more than a simple sipping activity. Why not bring some fun ideas to life? Children will be amazed and captivated when presented with fruit-infused water carrying berries, oranges, or mint for a natural burst of flavor in the colorful reusable bottles coupled with silly straws. Turning hydration into a fun-filled part of the natural daily life will set your child up for a lifetime of healthy sipping habits.
Teach your kids to consider water as the go-to drink during meals, study, and physical outdoor activities. Children are innocent and unaware of the risks of dehydration. Hence, parents must model good hydration habits, reinforcing the importance of staying refreshed throughout the day.
Take Frequent Breaks. Stay Refreshed With Gulps!
Healthy kids' sleep habits are the most important factor that child psychologists advocate for the proper growth, learning, and emotional well-being of children.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) released a health advisory on sleep duration in children on February 17, 2014. It was further updated on April 3, 2016.
Related Blog: Healthy Sleep Habits For Kids And Its Importance
Having your child maintain a consistent bedtime routine will make all the difference. Sleeping daily at the scheduled time is indeed challenging. To overcome such hurdles, parents can resort to soothing activities like reading a bedtime story, gentle stretching, relaxing yoga, and meditation, or dimming the lights to a minimum, signaling their little bodies that it's time to rest.
It takes a decent amount of disciplined effort to stick to a steady sleep schedule, and maintaining it on weekends is even more overwhelming. Adhering to this sleep schedule helps regulate the "innate sense of time" of all the family members. Humans and animals, in general, have this natural ability to perceive and estimate the passage of time without actually relying on external cues like clocks.
You might have heard or read about "Circadian Rhythms." Now, the good news: If members of your family strictly follow the predefined sleep schedules, it can save them from the following health conditions.
These conditions are a pure outcome of Abnormal Circadian Rhythms:
Benefits of ensuring better sleep for children:
Parents should strike the right balance of comfort and consistency. Proper bedtime routines will transition your children from a nightly struggle to a peaceful, cherished ritual that sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy sleep habits.
A well-rested child will always be Happy, Healthy, and Thriving!
For an ideal unison of mind and body, involve your child in team sports for kids or any other structured physical activity. These activities should be the ones needing physical exertion, like dance, gymnastics, or martial arts. Please select the one that nurtures and rejuvenates his body and mind.
Fitness is not restricted to enhancing physical appearance but is a solid platform to foster discipline, resilience, and kids' confidence. Experience the true joy of working toward a goal with disciplined physical exertion. Performing fitness routines in solitude may feel boring and cumbersome, resulting in your child losing his interest. Hence, involving him in group activities also fosters social skills development and teaches him teamwork, communication, and how to digest victories and setbacks with grace.
Here, the crucial question is to find the age-appropriate sports option that is just right for your kid and aligns well with his interests. Closely observe his actions or the things he loves playing with when he is alone. Your observation will give you a fair idea to choose from: soccer, billiards, ballet, or karate.
Each act should be done at the right time, yet it's never too late to make a fresh start. Hence, inspire your kid to accept an active lifestyle early in life. Physical (and mental) activity will vitalize his body, promote lifelong health, and instill a sense of accomplishment and belonging, further strengthening his confidence and resilience.
As responsible parents, you must support your children in their quest to find a sport or activity that interests them and allows them to gain more than just skills.
Related Blog: Fun Activities You Can Do On A Weekend With Kids
Leverage Sports to build character, friendships, and success in life.
Evenings are generally pleasant and welcoming. Tickle your taste buds and senses with the aroma of mouth-watering cuisines. After the hard day's toil, celebrate your hands-on experience while cooking with kids.
Visualizing this funny moment will give you goosebumps. Watching your little ones help your spouse with the kitchen chores is an experience worth repeating. Asking children to be present in the kitchen teaches them the value of food and healthy eating habits from an early age.
Ask your little wonders to perform simple tasks like washing veggies, stirring batter, or assembling their wraps. This process is a powerful way to help children take ownership of what they eat and let go of their kitchen fears. At the same time, they learn about portion control, weight, and ingredient measurement, as well as preparing balanced and nutritionally rich foods.
Preparing family meals together is an innovative and wonderful way to gel well with kids, spark their curiosity and creativity, and encourage them to make healthier choices without compromising taste.
Begin small and easy with kid-friendly recipes like fruit smoothies, whole-wheat pita pizzas, or DIY snack boxes. Parents must make the process enjoyable and rewarding.
With patience and appreciation, you can help your kids in the kitchen turn everyday cooking into a joyful learning experience.
Instill smart eating habits in childhood. Add health to their life and life to their years.
Have you seen children building sand castles on the beachside or creating amazing structures from non-toxic modeling clay? What is common between them? They take up shapes as per the child's wish. They are porous like sponges from within but beautiful outside.
Children have a unique way of observing and absorbing everything they see around them. You may be unaware, but kids keep observing your actions, words, style, and much more, which means what you do becomes more influential than your words.
An hour-long lecture on a healthy lifestyle will not yield the expected results as demonstrating it before your kids. Please give them the opportunity to observe and adopt it. If convinced, they will very well incorporate your actions into their lives. A healthy lifestyle requires parents to make nutritious food choices, consciously stay active in physical activities, and maintain balanced routines.
Factually speaking, positive parenting goes beyond rules. Showing it right will do miracles and bring benefits rather than telling what is right. Experts suggest making healthy living a shared experience. Parents can resort to family walks, cooking together, or prioritizing mental well-being to offer this experience to children—creating a foundation for lifelong positive habits.
Nothing on this planet is perfect, but with gradual progression and consistent efforts, one can achieve the superlatives. Hence, ensuring family wellness is more about progressing in various dimensions of life, establishing connections, and celebrating small victories together. If parents can embrace health as a journey rather than a destination, why should kids not follow them?
A simple strategy to achieve a healthy lifestyle is to teach, train, and empower your little wizards to replicate you for that golden future filled with vitality, vigilance, and emotional resilience.
A Powerful Parenting Tip: Lead by Example - Let the Kids Follow.
Raising a thriving child isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about making small, intentional choices that shape their physical and emotional well-being.
This 8-Step Approved Strategy is designed to guide parents toward a holistic approach to nurturing their little ones, from encouraging active kids and fostering healthy eating habits to establishing systematic kids’ sleep routines and embracing overall family wellness as a shared journey.
Each step—whether promoting fun exercises, prioritizing hydration for kids, setting screen-free fun boundaries, or engaging in cooking with kids—plays a crucial role in building a foundation for lifelong health and happiness.
Change doesn’t happen overnight.
But to make the change happen:
Parents, your love, guidance, and example are the most powerful tools in shaping your child’s future.
So, start afresh with small steps today; they will lead to a brighter, healthier, and happier tomorrow!
Celebrating Your Journey to Raising a Happier, Healthier Child, Begins With One Step at a Time.
1. How much physical activity does my child need?
Answer: Children aged 1 to 6 years need at least 60 minutes of active play daily. This can include anything from running and jumping to dancing or playing in the park. The goal is to keep them moving and having fun!
2. What if my child is a picky eater?
Answer:Start small by introducing one healthy food at a time alongside familiar favorites. Make meals colorful (children love colors and shades) and involve your child in cooking or choosing ingredients—they’re more likely to try foods they helped prepare!
3. How can I reduce my child's screen time without causing tantrums?
Answer: Replace screen time with engaging activities like puzzles, arts, storytelling, crafts, or outdoor play. Create a daily schedule that includes "screen-free" times during meals and be consistent with it. Leading by example. Show them how you limit your screen use and share its benefits.
4. What is a good bedtime routine for my child?
Answer: A simple, calming routine might include a warm bath, brushing teeth (twice a day), reading a story, and cuddling. Consistency is key—stick to the same bedtime each night to help your child’s body adjust to the routine.
5. How can I encourage my child to drink more water?
Answer: Make it fun by giving them a colorful water bottle or adding natural flavors like slices of fruit. Set an example by drinking water often and avoiding stocking sugary drinks at home as the first choice. Eating citrus fruits along with their fiber is also a great way to add vitamins, minerals, and trace elements while maintaining the necessary hydration levels in your child.
