Healthy Habits for Kids

Topic Overview

Habits are hard to break. That's why the sooner in life we build good, healthy habits, the easier it is to keep them and stay as healthy as possible. And when good habits are in place, it's easier to resist bad ones.

Your child's habits start with you

The most important thing to remember is that you are your child's role model. Your habits affect your children's habits.

If your habits are unhealthy—smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or always expecting the worst, for example—your child is more likely to get those habits.

If your habits are healthy—eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, looking forward to tomorrow, for example—your children are more likely to build those habits in their own lives.

What follows is help and advice for building good, lifelong habits in four areas:

Healthy eating.
Regular physical activity.
Staying safe and healthy.
Healthy thinking.

Healthy eating

Healthy eating links
Get the facts:	Healthy Eating for Children
Take action:	Healthy Eating: Helping your child learn healthy eating habits Quick Tips: Making Fast, Healthy Meals Quick Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budget Quick Tips: Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet Quick Tips: Making Healthy Snacks Healthy eating habits for preschoolers
More healthy habit information:	Healthy eating: Starting a plan for change Healthy eating: Cutting unhealthy fats Healthy eating: Making healthy choices when you shop Healthy eating: Making healthy choices when you eat out Using division of responsibility in feeding your child Factors that influence children’s food choices

Regular physical activity

Physical activity links
Get the facts:	Physical Activity for Children and Teens Helping Children with Disabilities Stay Active
Take action:	Fitness: Teaching your child to stay active Quick Tips: Getting Active As a Family Quick Tips: Getting in Shape Without Spending Money Quick Tips: Fitting Physical Activity Into Your Day Quick Tips: Getting Active at Home
More healthy habit information:	Fitness: Adding more activity to your life Fitness: Staying active when you have young children Fitness: Walking for wellness Fitness: Choosing activities that are right for you Quick Tips: Staying Active in Hot Weather Quick Tips: Staying Active in Cold Weather Ideas for getting active

Staying safe and healthy

Health and safety links
Get the facts:	Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years
Take action:	Quick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and Healthy Help your child avoid contact with people who appear ill Healthy habits to reduce the spread of diseases
More healthy habit information:	Health Protecting your child’s skin from sun Air pollution and outdoor activities with young children Basic dental care Hand-washing Public areas and exposure to infections Teen sleep patterns Talking with children about sex Practice safe sex to prevent disease Safety Teach your child how to interact with pets Prevent drowning by teaching children swimming safety Protect your children from stranger abduction Rules to teach your young child about streets and cars

Healthy thinking

Healthy thinking links
Get the facts:	Helping Your Child Build Inner Strength
Take action:	Growth and development: Helping your child build self-esteem Stress management: Helping your child with stress Help your school-age child develop social skills Building a healthy body image Helping your child avoid tobacco, drugs, and alcohol
More healthy habit information:	Think positive: Strengthening your school-age child’s self-esteem Recognizing and developing your children’s special talents Positive thinking with cognitive-behavioral therapy Helping your school-age child learn about the body Parenting strategies for raising successful teens Manage stress: Stress in children and teens Stress management: Managing your time Prevent bullying: Signs that a child is being bullied Building children’s self-esteem to prevent bullying What parents can do to help a child who is a bully

Health Tools

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.


	Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.
	Fitness: Adding more activity to your life
	Fitness: Choosing activities that are right for you
	Fitness: Staying active when you have young children
	Fitness: Teaching your child to stay active
	Fitness: Walking for wellness
	Growth and development: Helping your child build self-esteem
	Healthy eating: Cutting unhealthy fats from your diet
	Healthy eating: Helping your child learn healthy eating habits
	Healthy eating: Making healthy choices when you eat out
	Healthy eating: Making healthy choices when you shop
	Healthy eating: Starting a plan for change
	Stress management: Helping your child with stress
	Stress management: Managing your time

Related Information

Credits

Author	Cynthia Tank
Editor	Katy E. Magee, MA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Primary Medical Reviewer	Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Chuck Norlin, MD - Pediatrics
Last Updated	February 10, 2010

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