You want your children to be strong and healthy. You want to give them every advantage that enables them to grow and develop into strong productive adults.
Conventional medicine has a role, but many of you are looking for natural remedies and solutions to prevent or treat disease and illness. Consulting a children’s naturopath in addition to traditional medicine can contribute to a comprehensive approach to your child’s wellness.
Proper Nutrition
Getting children to eat well is not easy. Kids naturally gravitate to sugary drinks and snacks which are not healthy.
Natural fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats are critical for their growth and development. Whole unprocessed foods supply more of the essential nutrients that kids need. Natural foods help support their immune systems, energy levels, and overall health.
Monitor your child’s intake of processed food, including sugary drinks, chips, cookies, cakes and candies. The sugar in these foods can quickly send your children over the edge.
Physical Activity
Encourage your children to be active. Limit their screen time and get them outside playing. Find an outdoor activity they enjoy. Riding bicycles, swimming, children’s soccer, and other outdoor sports help kids develop strong bones, muscles and coordination.
If your child loves organized sports that’s great. They don’t have to be the star athlete to benefit. Sports teach basic social skills. Teamwork and discipline are important skills learned in organized activities. By playing together, children learn how to cooperate and share.
If your kids aren’t into organized sports, they can still be active. Running, jumping, climbing on a jungle gym, playing tag, or anything else that raises the heart rate is beneficial.
The key is finding activities that your child enjoys. It may take some work at first, but will pay great dividends in your child’s health and well-being.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to help kids stay healthy. Sleep is the time the body uses to restore and regenerate.
Children who don’t get enough sleep are prone to more tantrums, irritability and other aggressive behaviour.
You can help your children by:
- Setting a consistent sleep schedule
- Keep bedrooms dark and cool
- Avoid bright lights an hour before bedtime
- Don’t feed your children heavy meals close to bedtime
- Make sure your children get exercise during the day
Nothing will make you prouder than to see your children develop from awkward and uncertain into strong productive mature adults.