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Encouraging your kids to make healthy choices today will set them up for a happy and healthy future. By establishing healthy habits early on, you can feel confident that your kids will maintain healthy lifestyles as they gain independence and venture out into the world on their own. As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to support the development of these habits. From promoting the benefits of Eastern medicine to prioritizing family fitness and nutrition, here are some great ways to help your kids make better choices for the mind and body, courtesy of Imperfect Parenting.
Practice Shiatsu With Your Kids
Did you know that shiatsu can be beneficial for children? Shiatsu is a bodywork practice based on traditional Eastern medicine techniques reaching back over 3000 years. A shiatsu treatment can be beneficial for all ages and body types, parents and children alike! It can help with insomnia, anxiety, tension, headaches, digestive disturbances, and more. Through the use of full-body stretches, shiatsu can also stimulate the healing of the musculoskeletal system. Beyond stretches, a shiatsu treatment may also involve aromatherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, meditation, yin yoga, reiki, and massage.
Shiatsu revolves around the five elements of Eastern medicine—wood, fire, earth, water, and metal. Eastern philosophy holds the belief that these five elements play a role in health and well-being, demonstrating how all aspects of human health are interconnected with the environment around us. Research suggests that using elements of traditional Chinese medicine alongside modern science can improve disease prevention and facilitate healthy lifestyle changes.
Model Good Leadership and Educational Skills
It’s often said that children are like sponges. They absorb everything they see and experience, including what their parents do. By modeling good behaviors for your children, you can encourage them to develop similar habits. For example, modeling strong leadership skills can help your children thrive in the world of business as they embark on future careers. Developing leadership skills can help your children gain greater control over their choices, especially when it comes to their health. They’ll also learn how to lead with passion and motivate others to make positive changes.
Another invaluable way to help your children is by teaching them to embrace their own, natural thirst for knowledge. You can model this by actively trying to learn more about new things, whether that’s watching documentaries or even going back to school for a business degree with the goal of eventually starting your own business. In fact, if you’re open to online learning platforms, take a look at this option, which allows you to learn at your own pace with a great deal of flexibility in terms of scheduling.
Involve Your Children in Food Preparation
Including your children in meal planning and preparation is a great way to support the development of good nutritional habits. When your children understand the amount of work that goes into preparing a healthy meal, they’re more likely to appreciate it. Your kids will learn about various ingredients, different ways to prepare food, and why certain ingredients are better for their health than others.
Include Exercise in Your Family Routine
By making exercise a priority in your family routine, you’ll send your children the message that movement is important. DesertNews explains that exercising together can make your family stronger. Not only will you become physically stronger, but exercising also increases self-confidence and reduces anxiety. Plus, exercising together will help you bond with your kids!
Teach the Value of Relaxation
In this fast-paced world, it’s important to teach your kids the value of rest and relaxation. Help your kids learn to listen to their needs and slow down when life starts to feel overwhelming. Knowing how to relax in difficult situations is an important life skill. Again, this is where you can model good habits for your kids. Be mindful of how you respond to stressful situations, especially in front of your children. At the same time, teach your children calming techniques they can use to relax, like deep breathing, meditation, or visualization.
One of your jobs as a parent is to guide your kids toward healthy choices. By exercising as a family, teaching the value of traditional medicine, modeling good leadership skills, and having your kids help you prepare healthy meals in the kitchen, you’ll help them enjoy good health and well-being for years to come!
Imperfect Parenting aims to guide you into integrating your whole life together for health, vitality, and a deeper sense of purpose through “Imperfect Creative Action”. If you have any questions, please email Info@Imperfectparenting.net.