Healthy habits for kids

Published: 24 January 2019

Before you know it, the kids will be back in school and the holidays will be over. The new school term is fast approaching.

Going back to school is never easy after a nice long break. When days at the beach are swapped for classrooms, it can be hard to concentrate.

Here are some tips to help give your child a good back to school start.

1. A bedtime routine goes a long way

You don’t want your child falling asleep in class do you? A good night’s sleep can do lots of good from putting you in a good mood, to helping you stay focussed.

Make sure your little ones get plenty of sleep at night, then they’ll be ready to learn during the day.

Have trouble putting your kid to sleep? Join the club. A bedtime routine might help. Going to bed at the same time every night and turning off the TV, laptops and phones can help.

Still not working? Try a glass of warm milk and read a bedtime story. They’ll be snoozing in no time.

2. Start the day with a good breakfast

It’s called the most important meal of the day for a reason. Sending your kid to school without breakfast will do nothing to help with their studies and P.E will be much harder without energy to run around.

Breakfast doesn’t have to cost loads or take ages to make. If you’re low on time, a banana wrapped in bread will do just fine.

If you do have some time in the morning, porridge and weet-bix are a great source of energy for sports. Ready to play and learn!

3. Water and milk help kids grow

It’s not much fun spending the day being thirsty. Make sure you pack a drink for your child to take to school.

Water or milk are the best choices here. Water is free and it’s not full of sugar, so it’s good for your child’s body and mind.

4. Healthy lunches for happy kids

When lunchtime comes around, make sure your child has enough food to keep them full for the rest of the day.

A lunch full of veges and fruit will give them lots of energy and get their brains ready for more learning. It’ll also help them grow properly, building stronger bones and muscles. Find out what to put in a healthy lunchbox.

If you’re worried your kid won’t like their lunch, plan it together. This way, they can feel like they’re involved in deciding what they eat. 

5. Keep your kid’s lunch cool

During hot weather, packed lunches can go warm. You don’t need to spend money on an ice pack though. Just freeze a yoghurt the night before school. Then in the morning, put it in your kid’s lunchbox. It’ll keep the food cool and defrost in time for lunch.

Warm water isn’t appealing either. You can use the same trick for this. Freeze their water bottle the night before and let it defrost during the day.

Eating well and getting enough sleep may seem like little things, but they can make a world of difference for your child. Help them start these healthy habits from a young age and watch them grow.

For more healthy tips, visit the Pacific Heartbeat Facebook page and join the conversation. 

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