I have three kids and while they’re all unique and different, one thing they all have in common is they imitate everything my wife and I do. Oftentimes this is a wake up call for bad behaviors that we’re modeling for them: spending time on our phones at home, not putting things away, or yelling when we want someone to obey. Our behaviors teach our kids how to behave. Of course, we all want the best for our kids, including for them to have healthy bodies and habits. If that’s something you desire for your family, then you’ll have to ensure you’re modeling that behavior for them. Here are three ways to do so:
Setting the Example Through Exercise
I wouldn’t deprive my kids of oxygen, water, or food. All are necessary for survival. So is exercise. That’s why we exercise everyday. For mom and dad it looks like going to the gym. For the kids it looks like riding bikes, going swimming, doing ninja classes, going to playgrounds, or Jedi sword fights in the front yard.
Everyday we move our bodies, raise our heart rates, and sweat so we can survive and thrive.
Setting the Example Through Nutrition
Recognizing that many adults don’t get enough protein and that kids need protein to grow, a simple health habit to have for your family is ensuring you have protein at every meal. Ideally, this would be animal based protein from a meat source but since kids can be picky, dairy is a simple solution as well. For my kids, they usually have some type of sausage and/or protein powder smoothie for breakfast, dairy in the form of cheese and yogurt for lunch with some turkey thrown in, and for lunch we rotate between different meats and eggs.
Setting the Example Through Sleep
A well rested family is a blessing. An unrested family is a recipe for conflict. Your body needs sufficient sleep to recover properly from the previous day and function optimally the following day. Kids’ bodies are no different. Creating consistent sleep patterns where everyone gets the sleep they need will lead to healthier bodies and happier family members.
Setting the Example Through Consistency
If you had a major test coming up, you could slam caffeine all night and stay up studying or you could study for an hour, go for a walk, get a good night’s rest, and eat a healthy breakfast before the test.
Our bodies and our brains function better when we input healthy habits into them. So much so that a night of rest, exercise, and good food actually help us perform better than if we spent more time studying.
I’ve often observed people in high periods of stress and work justify quitting an exercise routine, eating unhealthy food, and getting poor sleep. It’s a very short sighted, uninformed, and immature strategy. It leads to worse outcomes in the short term and the long term.
A better approach:
“It’s important for me to perform at my best during this period. Therefore I will ensure I’m inputting the necessary behaviors I need to output the way I need to.”
David Allen
CEO
NBS Fitness