5 Healthy Habits to Pass on to Your Kids

Yesterday, October 4, was National Child Health Day and LearningRx is sharing 5 healthy habits to pass on to your kids. As a general rule, parenting is often most effective when parents model physically healthy habits for their kids rather than a "Do as I say, not as I do" approach. Here are some examples of positive habits you can pass on to your kids:

1. Oral hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Oral hygiene affects more than just teeth and gums! Research shows that there are countless other common and serious health problems caused by bad oral health, including dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even kidney disease, among others.

2. Nutrition: Limit your sugar intake, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and choose whole foods over processed foods as much as possible. Teach kids to read food labels and help them understand portion sizes.

3. Physical exercise: Participate in sports, go for family hikes, take walks after dinner, or swim in the public pools. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity while also boosting confidence and family bonding.

4. Water intake: As a general rule, drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh–per day. So, a 150-pound teen should drink between  75 and 150 ounces of water per day, depending on their activity level.

5. Sleep: According to the CDC, children 6-12 years of age should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep per 24 hours (which can include naps). Teens 13-18 should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep, depending on their activity level.