Creating healthy habits for your family can be a challenge, and getting kids excited about these healthy habits sometimes feels impossible. Engaging in regular exercise, developing a passion for learning, and spending quality time as a family can be difficult to fit into a routine, especially when life gets hectic. With electronics playing such a huge role in our daily lives, these habits can be even more difficult to form. Disconnecting from social media and the news, and finding time to spend as a family is no easy task, but below are some helpful tips to get your kids engaged and involved during family time, while teaching them healthy lifestyle choices!

Routine Exercise

Getting kids outside and exercising is easier than it seems, and there are many activities you can choose from to get your kids up and moving on a regular basis. Put on sneakers and take everyone for a walk around the neighborhood. Find local parks and playgrounds for the kids to play in, and give yourself a chance to unwind while the kids are exercising both their bodies and minds. Playgrounds are a safe space for children to socialize with other kids, while also exploring their creative sides through the games they play. It also gives you a chance to chat with other parents about some of the family friendly activities your area has to offer. If your family is up for a more challenging walk, take the kids on a hike or nature walk, and make a day of it! Pack a picnic for everyone that includes fresh fruits, veggies, and plenty of water.

If your little ones show athletic inclinations, research youth sports programs like little league baseball, soccer, or fun runs! Make these opportunities a chance to teach your kids the importance of good sportsmanship and give them encouragement to push themselves to achieve a goal. If your kids are not interested in organized youth sports, there are still plenty of options for healthy hobbies like biking or dancing that will still get them out of the house, on their feet and engaging with other kids.

Learning Opportunities

Quiet time is a blessing when you want to unwind, but it can be hard to come by with electronics being a go-to during down time. To encourage screen-free quiet times for an hour or so a day, try to get your kids to read a book or magazine.

Research shows that children who read an average of 20 minutes per day will receive higher scores than 90 percent of their peers on standardized tests. Reading also helps with language development in young children, which will improve both their writing and speaking skills. Most importantly, reading helps promote healthy brain development, which helps with memorization and deep thinking skills.

If your children are not readers, finding crafts or creative projects for them to work on can also help brain development, while teaching your kids (especially younger children) important fine motor skills. Introducing new creative hobbies can also help to give your kids a beneficial alternative to electronic devices by helping relieve stress and frustrations in a constructive setting.

Social Time With Family

One of the best ways to spend quality time as a family is to share meals together. Eating meals as a family has shown many positive effects on children outside of dinner time. Children who eat dinner with their families at least five nights a week show higher performance in school, and are twice as likely to receive grades that are B’s or higher. They are also less likely to try tobacco or alcohol, and develop healthier eating habits, reducing the chances of them becoming overweight. Eating as a family promotes so many great health and wellness benefits, along with getting to have happy, light-hearted conversations with your kids about their interests and hobbies, so try to make it a nightly routine!

Another way to connect with your kids is the get them involved in the process of deciding what to cook. Search the web together for a recipe that appeals to everyone, and then take a trip to the grocery store or a local farmers market for some fresh ingredients. Using organic veggies and humanely farmed meats when cooking has shown a number of health benefits including cancer prevention, and has the added bonus of being better for the environment because they are not farmed using pesticides or growth hormones. Have a few talking points about these health benefits ready before hitting the market to give your kids a hands-on learning experience about nutrition and health. It may peak their interest in healthy eating, encouraging a healthier lifestyle overall.

Once you have all of the ingredients ready, have the kids wash their hands and teach them how a meal is prepared as you follow along with your recipe of choice. While your food is on the stove or in the oven, it’s time to set the table. If eating together is a new habit for your family, it may be time to invest in a table large enough for the whole family, and some other furnishings and decor pieces to make the space feel inviting and comfortable. Creating a place where your family members feel comfortable and relaxed is an important aspect to bringing both family and guests to the table.