From the moment your kids enter the world, you are hugely influential in their growth and development. Day in and day out, from the newborn bubble to the teenage years, children learn a vast range of skills from their parents. If you have kids, it’s natural to want to create the best possible environment for them to develop, learn, and thrive.
So how can we, as parents, nurture and support our children? How can we help them thrive?
Supporting learning
The vast majority of parents want to be involved in their child’s education and play a role in their development and growth from an early age. There are many ways in which parents can support, encourage and facilitate learning at every stage of life.
During the early years, learning through play is the best way to teach and show children new skills, have fun together, and encourage curiosity. Play encompasses a hugely diverse range of activities, exercises, games and tasks, all of which give children opportunities to develop different skills and capabilities and grow their knowledge base. Learning from other parents, communicating with teachers and educators, and using resources can help you implement effective strategies and provide inspiration for new activities and games. Reading guides like 16 Important Types Of Play To Help Your Child Learn And Grow is a great way to find inspiration and learn how to use different types of activities to help your child hone a broad spectrum of skills. From imaginative and creative play to physical activity and social games, you can zone in on different areas to support well-rounded learning and make it fun.
When you’re a parent, you and your child will face different challenges as your children grow. Even those kids who seem to take to school like a duck to water and pick everything up swiftly with minimal effort will encounter difficulties or obstacles. As a parent, it’s important to know how best to encourage and support your child if they’re struggling. Tailor your approach to suit your child. You know your kids best. Trying different types of activities and offering alternative explanations is often beneficial. If your child is finding a specific subject tough to grasp, for example, finding new ways to talk about it and help them solve problems or retain information can be beneficial. Using practical activities and tasks to explain theories and ideas is a great example. Visiting places, seeing, smelling, touching and hearing things, and doing activities rather than reading about them is sometimes more effective than seeing pictures in books or chunks of text on a board in the classroom.
That’s why I always love a good field trip!
Embracing a healthy lifestyle
Embracing a healthy lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your kids. Whether you have a tiny baby, a toddler, or a teen, your lifestyle will impact your children. Setting a good example will help your child foster good habits and reap the rewards of positive choices. The fundamentals include exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, making sure you get enough sleep, taking good care of your mental well-being, and looking after other aspects of your health, such as your oral health.
Regular exercise is crucial for adults and children. From a young age, kids need plenty of physical activity. Running around, dancing, hopping, jumping, swimming, riding a bike, and playing sports can help kids burn energy, strengthen muscles and bones, and learn valuable life lessons. Sports also offer brilliant social opportunities for kids and their parents and they can teach discipline, teamwork, and the importance of working together and being gracious in victory and defeat. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, there are many ways you can increase your activity levels as a family unit. Go for long walks or take your bikes out if you have older kids. Play in your backyard or take a bat and ball to the local park or beach. Go to parent and child exercise classes or look for groups you can join in the area. Take up active hobbies, explore the great outdoors, and use your weekends to try new activities and spend quality time together.
A healthy diet is key to optimum health. Children rely on their parents so it’s important to provide nutritious meals and snacks. Aim to introduce your child to a diverse range of foods and flavors from a young age, focusing on nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. If you have a healthy diet, you can give your kids the same meals, which saves time, energy, and money. Take extra care to monitor salt and sugar intake when planning and prepping meals for kids. Experts recommend a maximum daily sugar intake of no more than 10% of a child’s total calorie intake. For children under 2, it’s best to keep consumption of added sugars to a minimum. Calcium is very important for children as it aids healthy development of bone tissue, teeth, and nails. Try to ensure your child gets plenty of calcium by drinking milk and eating foods like dairy products and leafy green vegetables.
Sleep deprivation is one of the most common issues people will talk to you about when you’re expecting, you have a newborn, or you’re adjusting to life with a toddler. It is common for parents to experience a lack of sleep, especially in the first few months, but there are ways to maximize the chances of healthy sleep patterns. Establishing a routine is a hugely beneficial step, both for children and parents. Opinions vary in terms of when to implement routines for babies, but many suggest encouraging young children to get into a routine from around 4-6 months of age. If children get used to going to bed at a certain time each night, they’re more likely to follow patterns. As a parent, it’s helpful to adopt your own routine. We often focus all our attention on our children’s nighttime routines, but neglecting our own can be damaging. Setting a regular bedtime and taking time to relax and unwind before bed can make a big difference in sleep duration and quality.
Taking good care of your mental well-being will have positive effects on your health and your child’s health and development. Parents often feel pressure to be superheroes who juggle a million balls at once, never sleep or take time out and are always ready and raring to go. In reality, everyone needs a break, some alone time, and the opportunity to look after themselves. It’s beneficial to make time for self-care. Simple things like going to an exercise class once a week, taking an hour out of a busy day to read a book, go for a walk or catch up with a friend, and implementing self-help stress management techniques can go a long way to boosting mental well-being. It’s also crucial to spot the difference between being busy and stressed and not coping. If you have symptoms of severe stress, you’re not sleeping, your moods or behaviors have changed, or you experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, seek advice. There is help available. It’s also critical for parents to lean on their support systems. Let friends and family members step up.
Other aspects of health and well-being can also impact development. Dental health is an excellent example. Oral health issues are one of the most common reasons why children require hospital treatment. Taking good care of your child’s teeth and gums and scheduling regular examinations can help lower the risk of caries, gum disease, and premature tooth loss.
As parents, we all want our children to thrive. It’s not easy to raise kids. Every parent encounters challenges and difficulties, but taking simple steps can help you encourage and support learning, nurture growth and development, and foster positive habits that will benefit your child for life.
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