Tack up some small charts in your kitchen or just about anywhere your child frequents. Label the charts: Exercise, Keeping Clean, Staying Safe, and Eating Right. Talk with them about ways they keep healthy and some of the healthy habits they already have formed. As you discuss this, fill in the charts by writing under the headers such things as: For Staying Safe - always using the "Buddy System" to go places. Or, For Exercise - riding my bike, For Keeping Clean - changing my pillowcase and washing my hands before and after toilet time and eating. Next, ask them about some other things that they might implement into their charts. Work on one of these implementations each week, or until they become habits as well. Be sure to award them with a certificate of some sort once they have made their new additions habits!
Teach them some different types of exercise or dance steps that you might never have thought to teach a little one. They are little sponges and will learn fast! Some favorites are step-aerobics, line dancing, and even jumping on a mini-tramp.
There are lots of things you can do to keep healthy topics interesting. Read lots of books centered around the above charts. Learn about healthy eating and cooking and especially how to read the food guide pyramid.
Have them think of different menus and recipes that can be made and served.
Whatever you do, keep it fun! Exercise, healthy habits, and safety issues should never be things that "bore" our kids! After all, they are the basics of survival. And, we all must be survivors!
Until next time, ride those bikes!
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