Health | Lead by Example
By Ina Woolcott
As well as passing your genes on to your children, you also bestow on them a legacy of health going far beyond these. You model the decisions you make regarding health, passing on your beliefs. A few tips to help you lay the foundations for a way to healthy life.
Many adults are afraid of, and don’t trust their bodies, believing it to be weak and prone to illness. When we look in the mirror and say to ourselves that we are fat our kids are listening. The common, but untrue belief still exists that one will catch a cold if going outside with a coat.
In reality the human body is one of the most phenomenal mechanical systems on the planet. Without even thinking about it or adding any effort, wounds heal. Our immune systems are our personal security system, defending us from bacteria and viruses. Of course illness is a part of human life, but just look at the bodies ability to fight illness, e.g. common colds. This is solid evidence of the bodies resilience. There are natural remedies that can be taken to speed up the recovery process such as homeopathic remedies. Instead of suppressing symptoms, they bring them out quicker. Conventional medicines suppress symptoms and this attacks the immune system and can lead on to other illness. Of course there are times when conventional medicine can be a god send, but if possible chemical drugs should be avoided.
Remark frequently to your child how amazing their body is - how amazing it is they can talk, walk, run, how well they can draw, eat, play etc. Instil in them respect, and wonderment at how amazing the human body is. Tell them they are beautiful and that they have the ability to do achieve ANYTHING they want with the right attitude. Remind them how amazing it is to have working limbs and organs.
Your children will soon enough be coming to you with questions regarding their bodies, how they work etc. It may be uncomfortable for you both if you don’t know the answer. This may lead to you child thinking further along the line that questions about the body should be avoided. Perhaps this is one reason why parents and grown ups alike often dislike asking doctors seemingly ‘embarrassing’ questions. Things that may seem taboo or out of the ordinary but are all a part of the human experience, and commonly experienced world wide.
This is another opportunity for you and your child to learn and grow together, searching for answers together. You can use sources such as science books, or relevant books aimed at children, or the internet to look for answers if you don’t already have them. Try and use anatomically correct words.
Teach your children to listen to their bodies. Sometimes it seems as though adults are rewarded for not listening to and disregarding what their bodies are trying to tell them. People go to work ill, and mums often ignore the need for sleep and food. Optimum health is maintained when the signals that tell us the body is out of balance are heeded promptly. Eat well, drink well, sleep well and be healthy.
Help your children to tell when they are hot/cold, tired, hungry/full. Explain that wearing layers in cool weather is good, and that taking or adding a layer regulates the body temperature.
Explain that when we feel pain it is to warn us of danger and keep us safe. For instance, tell them that if they get burned it’s the bodies reminder to be careful.
As you are probably aware there is an ever increasing problem with obesity. Lead by example when it comes to health. Discuss good and bad food choices and what negative effects bad foods have on the body. Encourage them to drink water, not soft drinks, or sugary drinks, nor anything containing artificial, chemical sweeteners. Herbal teas are good for variation or freshly made fruit/vegetable juices. don’t force your child to finish their plate. They know how big their stomachs are. Don’t give them a complex. Find out what their eating habits are. Do they like 3 meals a day or smaller more frequent portions?
When you give your child(ren) a feeling of respect for their bodies, they have a foundation of good health.
