Raising your kids in a loving environment all comes down to you and healthy habits
Raising a family in a healthy, stable home takes care and love. Anyone can raise a child but not everyone can raise a child in an environment filled with love, support, fun, safety, and comfort. This takes a lot of parental effort and the need to do this for kids thankfully comes naturally to many.
Families raising children must commit a considerable amount of time to create a healthy home life for their kids. Childhood is a massive part of human development and the events that happen to us in our childhood home stay with us forever. Children of all ages thrive on routine and all need individualized attention. As a mom, our job is to create this healthy, stable environment for our children to look back on fondly. These 7 habits are family-friendly and will give your child the stability they crave.
7 Eating Dinner Together
Dinner is the only meal of the day many families actually see each other. Breakfast is rushed and lunch is spent apart. Dinner is the meal of the day that is supposed to comfort us after a long day and make us feel ready to do it all again. Stanford Childrens emphasizes eating dinner as a family because it prioritizes communication and togetherness. Aim to eat dinner together as a family without television, phones, and other screens at least four days a week. Slow down a bit, ask each other questions, and have a family meal.
6 Talking About Your Days
As your kids get older and have more of life outside of the home, keeping that familial connection will fall even more to you. Ask your kids about their day every single day, especially on the days where you all can’t eat together or spend time. They may not always want to answer you or talk, but they will know you care. Don’t pry or demand an answer either. Make sure you share your day too so your kid doesn’t feel inundated with questions. It’s all about family sharing.
5 Create Traditions
Childhood is so short and it should be happy and memorable. Family traditions are special ways of celebrating holidays, birthdays, seasons, or anything. Anything you or your children create can become a lifelong, much-beloved tradition. Very Well Family explains the differences between family tradition and family routine, and the significance of tradition. Traditions are special for all and something to look forward to, routines are just a part of life. Holiday traditions are especially memorable and special to our children.
4 Get Good Sleep
We’re sure you remember from the baby days the importance of sleep and you shouldn’t push that aside as your kids grow. Even teenagers need more sleep than adults and good sleep is the foundation to a healthy, stable life. Ensure your kids of all ages get great sleep but creating a healthy bedtime routine and schedule. Get your kids to sleep at the same time each night and allow them time to decompress before sleep by reading, or spending time with you.
3 Limit Screen Time For Family Time
Screens are everywhere and it’s so easy to get caught up in our own worlds. As a family, put down the phones, turn off the TV, and dedicate screen-free family time at least once a week. As a family, you all can play some games, head outside, enjoy the silence of your home, do crafts, or just have some conversation. You’ll be surprised at how much attention screens can really take from the family. Make it a priority to focus on your kids and get them to focus on you.
2 Celebrating Your Child
Your child needs and deserves to feel loved. So many adults suffer from a lack of self-worth and that can be rooted in childhood. Celebrate your child daily and build them up in the best way. When your child accomplishes anything, big or small, praise them appropriately.
Raising Children tells parents that young children need praise for small tasks like picking up toys or getting dressed alone. Older children should be praised for completing homework or chores. Teenagers can be praised for getting home on time and keeping a positive attitude.
1 Exercise & Move Together
Exercise is vital to a happy, healthy, stable life. Family exercise will not only get everyone moving but it’s another way for your family to spend time together. Eat Right has a variety of family exercises based on the season. They suggest things like taking your kids to swim lessons in the summer as exercise or walking the mall together. Another great idea is to do daily family walks after dinner or play your favorite sport in the yard or at the park.
Source: Stanford Children’s, Very Well Family, Raising Children, Eat Right
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