Top ways to prioritze children’s heart health
February is Heart Health Month and we’re sharing some kid-friendly tips that children (and their heart) will love, which you can incorporate into daily routines to keep your child growing healthy and strong! Establishing healthy habits at a young age can help lower the risk of serious health conditions later in life such as heart disease – often resulting from risk factors including obesity, diabetes, lack of physical activity and high blood pressure.
Try the tips below to help keep your child’s heart in great health!
Encourage your child to stay active
Being active is one of the best things to do in order to maintain great health, and has an abundance of benefits for the mind and body. From traditional sports to running around the yard, the options for incorporating healthy activities in the day are endless and may even be something you and your family can create a routine for together.
Indoor ideas to stay active:
- Jumping jacks
- Have a dance party
- Make an obstacle course
- Jump rope
- Balloon volleyball
- Hula hoop contest
Outdoor ideas to stay active:
- Hopscotch in the driveway
- Ride a bike
- Go on a nature walk
- Yard work with the family
- Visit a park
- Play games in the yard
Keep healthier choices available
Sure kids know they should eat healthy, but sometimes they still need an extra push here and there. Creating healthier eating habits doesn’t have to happen overnight. Have an open dialogue about nutritious foods with your child. Through these conversations, you may discover why they do or don’t like certain foods and could possibly even change their mind by presenting them in a different way. Learn more about how to help kids eat more nutritious meals here to give your child the extra fuel they need!
Get annual well-child checkups
Routine wellness checks are something you don’t want your child to miss out on. The frequency of appointments depends on the age for the first few years of life, and at age three your child should be seen by a pediatrician annually. This is to ensure the proper growth and development of your child, as well as get the appropriate vaccines needed to prevent harmful illnesses in the future. These appointments also provide the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions you or your child may have for the pediatrician.
By just taking a few moments out of the day, your child can easily create habits that will help to keep their overall growth and development on track – and have fun at the same time! If you need guidance throughout your child’s health journey, click here to schedule an appointment.
Regardless of the date published, no content on this website should ever be used as a replacement for direct medical advice from your primary care provider or another qualified clinician.
