Healthy Habits for Kids

Topic Overview

Habits are hard to break. That's why the sooner in life we build good, healthy habits, the easier it is to keep them and stay as healthy as possible. And when good habits are in place, it's easier to resist bad ones.

Your child's habits start with you

The most important thing to remember is that you are your child's role model. Your habits affect your children's habits.

If your habits are unhealthy—smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or always expecting the worst, for example—your child is more likely to get those habits.

If your habits are healthy—eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, looking forward to tomorrow, for example—your children are more likely to build those habits in their own lives.

What follows is help and advice for building good, lifelong habits in four areas:

Healthy eating.
Regular physical activity.
Staying safe and healthy.
Healthy thinking.

Healthy eating

Healthy eating links
Get the facts:	Healthy Eating for ChildrenHealthy Eating for Children
Take action:	Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating HabitsHealthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You ShopHealthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Shop Quick Tips: Making Fast, Healthy MealsQuick Tips: Making Fast, Healthy Meals Quick Tips: Healthy Eating on a BudgetQuick Tips: Healthy Eating on a Budget Quick Tips: Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your DietQuick Tips: Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet Quick Tips: Making Healthy SnacksQuick Tips: Making Healthy Snacks
More healthy habit information:	Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating HabitsHealthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your DietHealthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat OutHealthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat Out Healthy Eating in Children: Things That Influence Food ChoicesHealthy Eating in Children: Things That Influence Food Choices Feeding Your Child Using Division of ResponsibilityFeeding Your Child Using Division of Responsibility Healthy Eating: Starting a Plan for ChangeHealthy Eating: Starting a Plan for Change

Regular physical activity

Physical activity links
Get the facts:	Physical Activity for Children and TeensPhysical Activity for Children and Teens Helping Children With Disabilities Stay ActiveHelping Children With Disabilities Stay Active
Take action:	Fitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay ActiveFitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay Active Quick Tips: Getting Active as a FamilyQuick Tips: Getting Active as a Family Quick Tips: Getting in Shape Without Spending MoneyQuick Tips: Getting in Shape Without Spending Money Quick Tips: Fitting Physical Activity Into Your DayQuick Tips: Fitting Physical Activity Into Your Day Quick Tips: Getting Active at HomeQuick Tips: Getting Active at Home
More healthy habit information:	Fitness: Adding More Activity to Your LifeFitness: Adding More Activity to Your Life Fitness: Staying Active When You Have Young ChildrenFitness: Staying Active When You Have Young Children Fitness: Walking for WellnessFitness: Walking for Wellness Fitness: Choosing Activities That Are Right for YouFitness: Choosing Activities That Are Right for You Quick Tips: Staying Active in Hot WeatherQuick Tips: Staying Active in Hot Weather Quick Tips: Staying Active in Cold WeatherQuick Tips: Staying Active in Cold Weather Exercise and Physical Activity IdeasExercise and Physical Activity Ideas

Staying safe and healthy

Health and safety links
Get the facts:	Health and Safety, Birth to 2 YearsHealth and Safety, Birth to 2 Years Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 YearsHealth and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years
Take action:	Quick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and HealthyQuick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and Healthy Protecting Your Child From InfectionsProtecting Your Child From Infections Taking Your Child to Routine Doctor VisitsTaking Your Child to Routine Doctor Visits Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep WellSleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well Quick Tips: Using Backpacks SafelyQuick Tips: Using Backpacks Safely Talking With Your Child About SexTalking With Your Child About Sex
More healthy habit information:	Health Protecting Your Child's Skin From SunProtecting Your Child's Skin From Sun Child Safety: Air PollutionChild Safety: Air Pollution Basic Dental CareBasic Dental Care Hand-WashingHand-Washing Teenage Sleep PatternsTeenage Sleep Patterns Safer SexSafer Sex Safety Child Safety: PetsChild Safety: Pets Child Safety: Preventing DrowningChild Safety: Preventing Drowning Child Safety: Streets and Motor VehiclesChild Safety: Streets and Motor Vehicles Child Safety: Preventing Child AbductionChild Safety: Preventing Child Abduction Preventing Children's Injuries From Sports and Other ActivitiesPreventing Children's Injuries From Sports and Other Activities Teen Relationship AbuseTeen Relationship Abuse

Healthy thinking

Healthy thinking links
Get the facts:	Helping Your Child Build Inner StrengthHelping Your Child Build Inner Strength
Take action:	Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-EsteemGrowth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem Stress Management: Helping Your Child With StressStress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress Help Your School-Age Child Develop Social SkillsHelp Your School-Age Child Develop Social Skills Helping Your Child Build a Healthy Body ImageHelping Your Child Build a Healthy Body Image Helping Your Child Avoid Tobacco, Drugs, and AlcoholHelping Your Child Avoid Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol
More healthy habit information:	Encourage balanced thinking: Recognizing and Developing Your Children's Special TalentsRecognizing and Developing Your Children's Special Talents Stop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of ThinkingStop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of Thinking Helping Your School-Age Child Learn About the BodyHelping Your School-Age Child Learn About the Body Tips for Parents of TeensTips for Parents of Teens Manage stress: Stress in Children and TeensStress in Children and Teens Stress Management: Managing Your TimeStress Management: Managing Your Time Prevent bullying: Bullying: How to Help Your Child Who BulliesBullying: How to Help Your Child Who Bullies

Health Tools

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.

Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.

Fitness: Staying Active When You Have Young ChildrenFitness: Staying Active When You Have Young Children
Fitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay ActiveFitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay Active
Fitness: Walking for WellnessFitness: Walking for Wellness
Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-EsteemGrowth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem
Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your DietHealthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet
Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating HabitsHealthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits
Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat OutHealthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Eat Out
Healthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You ShopHealthy Eating: Making Healthy Choices When You Shop
Healthy Eating: Starting a Plan for ChangeHealthy Eating: Starting a Plan for Change
Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep WellSleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well
Stress Management: Helping Your Child With StressStress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress
Stress Management: Managing Your TimeStress Management: Managing Your Time

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.orgHealthwise.org.

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