Attention mums and dads! This is a very important mission!No, we’re not talking about saving the world, although it could help; we’re talking about nourishing our children – those little adventurers who sometimes refuse to eat what we prepare for them. And no, we’re not going to give you a monotonous guide full of “you shoulds” either. This time we want to share practical tools full of tips, ideas and advice to encourage healthy habits as a family.We know that at this stage your children are a whirlwind of discoveries, with endless questions and, of course, some battles at mealtimes and bedtime. How can we promote healthy habits in our children? One answer is to transform routines around play, food and rest into an adventure.Play. The adventure of moving.At this stage, we need to understand that our children’s energy is high, and what we can do is channel it. Here are some ideas:Find a time during the day to move their bodies. It doesn’t have to be a formal sport; it can be free play – jumping, running, dancing, etc.Replace the use of devices with more creative activities such as drawing, helping in the kitchen, board games or puzzles.The WHO recommends a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity a day.Sleep. The adventure of recharging batteries.Create a routine with set times for dinner, brushing teeth, reading a story and going to sleep. This gives them a sense of security, gives you structure, and together you gradually prepare for rest.Make sure the bedroom where they sleep has a calm atmosphere, with low light and a cool temperature.The WHO recommends between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night for optimal health.Food. The adventure of colours.Offer small amounts of food several times a day. When it comes to new foods, your children may need to try them up to 10 times before accepting them.Create fun shapes with food, such as smiley faces or animals. You can use cookie cutters for quesadillas or sliced bread. Your imagination is the key.The WHO recommends a varied diet that includes foods from all groups at every meal.Remember that your children learn from what they see – you are their role model. Create simple adventures at bath time, mealtimes, on the way to places and during visits to the doctor. This will help create a relaxed environment for your children and motivate them to follow routines, rules and to have fun.The process of encouraging healthy habits can take several days or weeks; the best thing you can do is be consistent and look for a bit of fun in each activity you do with your children. Offer choices rather than impositions, set limits with love and allow yourself to negotiate with them at times.Our holistic development approach includes healthy habits in order to promote their optimal growth and wellbeing. We focus on a model that aims to educate your children in a safe and happy environment, where they feel confident to ask questions, communicate, work as a team and build solid foundations for the next academic levels.If you want to know more about physical activity, sleep and nutrition, there are organisations dedicated to researching and sharing healthy standards for people, such as the WHO (World Health Organization) and several disease prevention centres. Depending on age group, physical activity and appetite, standards are set to help people feel well. To learn more about this topic, we invite you to visit:World Health Organization:https://www.who.int/health-topics/child-health#tab=tab_1World Health Organization (Spanish site):https://www.who.int/es
