Healthy habits are equally important for both adults and kids. Teaching healthy habits for kindergarteners is even more important as this is the time where they learn things better. Kids learn from their parents — both good and bad and hence it is essential to guide them on the right path. Introducing kids to healthy habits earlier will have lifelong benefits, and you can be rest assured that your kids will grow to be mindful adults.
A child can be easily molded during the early years and hence teaching healthy habits to a child early on becomes a part of their life skills. Since kids are exposed to different environments daily, it is easy for them to pick up both good and bad things. To make the future of your child better, always strive to ensure the child picks healthy habits since pre-schooling days.
Read on more to know about the habits which we believe every child must develop during their early stages.
When Should You Start Inculcating Healthy Habits In Kindergartners?
It is crucial to teach healthy habits to kindergartners at a very early stage because they are pretty much influenced by their parents, near and dear ones and immediate surroundings. According to a source, children develop their habits by the age of nine, and thus both good and bad habits could be hard to break after that.
Related Reading: 12 Social Skills Activities For Toddlers
Teaching good habits before the child gets old is the right way to follow so that they are used to these manners as they mature. Do not wait for the child to understand what you teach as they will pick it up as a process and follow it throughout.
Washing hands for instance is a good example where you can act as a lead and the child learns from you. Emphasize on the importance of washing hands in the right way as you know the importance of it.
Healthy Habits To Teach Kindergartners
Habits are actions we perform subconsciously and hence these are difficult to break. That is why it is important to develop healthy habits for kindergarteners at an early age. Keep it simple so they learn it quickly without any difficulty.
Teach them some healthy eating habits such as going to the fridge and opting for a sliced piece of fruit instead of choosing a cake. Alternatively, read a story on healthy habits for kindergarten which could sound interesting to them, and make them follow some good habits. You can also introduce healthy habits activities for kindergarten such as tips for cleaning up their toys after playing which could keep them engaging and also understand the importance of cleaning things and eventually become learning for life.
Listed below are a few healthy habits for kindergarten which could shape their life in a better way.
1. Brushing twice a day — important healthy habits for kindergarten
Dental hygiene is important in kids. With kids eating all stuff, it is mandatory to make them brush twice a day — morning and before bed. Teach your kids the importance of brushing twice a day so it becomes a habit. Nowadays, kids eat a lot of junk food and thus CAVITIES ARE COMMON AMONG KIDS. We need to make them understand that brushing twice a day helps to prevent cavities. Also, teach them not to eat any food after brushing at night.
2. Including colored foods in daily menu
A good healthy diet is a habit. Teach your children to eat a variety of foods with different colors. You need to encourage them to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and keep them away from common unhealthy foods like sugary sweet or snacks.
Include a low-fat dairy diet such as a glass of milk or a cup of curd. Switch to healthy eating options such as dry fruits or homemade sweets against sugar candy when you wish to celebrate their victory. Remember, a variety of foods will provide the child with the required energy.
3. Follow bedtime routines
Kids need to sleep for a minimum of 8 hours per day. One of the healthy habits for kindergarten is to make the child go to bed by 10 pm and start their day at 7 am. This is also on the list of tips to help you prepare your child for preschool as it helps a lot of things fall in place such as getting ready for school, a proper breakfast time, etc.
Make them drink a lot of water and use the bathroom before they go to bed. This will make them sleep better. Also do not allow them to play with mobile gadgets before bedtime which might eventually affect their sleep.
4. Step outdoor to teach healthy habits for kindergarten
Play is as important as studying. Letting your child play for 1 to 1.5 hours every day is necessary. This does not only include indoor activities but outdoor as well. Playing outdoors includes getting a lot of fun, making new friends, and of course a lot of physical play too. Kids learn team-building skills, and just as winning is important, play lets children understand the value to losing too. The way you help your child process his feelings after a loss in a game paves the way he reacts to disappointments in life later. on.
Make sure not to give a lot of screen time or gadgets to the child to keep them occupied. Kids have to step outdoors and learn liife-skills. Keeping them glued to screens not only makes them lethargic but damages eyesight as well.
Related Reading: Smartphones-12 Reasons To Keep Your Children Away From Them
5. Make them aware of ‘stranger danger’
Children at the age of 3 or 4 are very impulsive and can be easily carried away if they find anyone offering what they like or making an interesting chat. It is important to teach safety rules to your kids at home as they will not be able to differentiate between good or bad and can blindly trust anyone and make friends.
Among the list of healthy habits for kindergarteners, this probably qualifies as very important and critical. Though it could be tough to teach young kids about a stranger, educating them to stay safe and close with you while going out is important. They can easily call anyone aunty or uncle and make friends. Show them examples of who to call aunty, uncle, grandpa, and grandma and who might be probable strangers.
6. Water — a must have healthy habit for kindergarten
Water is beneficial to our body in multiple ways. Drinking a lot of water helps to remove the excess waste from the body. As children play throughout the day, they need to stay hydrated as without the right amount of water they get dehydrated which could take a toll on their health.
If the child doesn’t drink regular water, add a few drops of lemon or Tulsi to the water. Also, advise them to use clean glasses and water bottles to store water.
7. Teaching to stay hygienic — one of the important healthy habits for kindergarten
Children play for long hours which leads to a collection of a lot of germs, sweat, and dirt. If the child goes to bed in the same clothes and without freshening up, there are chances they might develop an infection and they could also be smelly.
Bathroom safety tips for toddlers should be adhered religiously as bathrooms are accident prone. The child must have a bath at least once a day in lukewarm water and change their dress after school and after play. Also, ensure to wash their scalp twice a week using baby-friendly shampoo.
8. Avoid skipping breakfast
The most important meal of the day is breakfast. A significant healthy habit for kindergarten is to ensure not to skip this part of the meal as it adds maximum energy. Make sure your child is an early riser and eats breakfast on time.
Children mostly skip breakfast either because they are in a hurry to school or they are busy playing. Offering a variety of foods including either milk, fruits, Dosa, Paratha, or bread is recommended.
9. Read every day
According to a source, reading helps the child build self-esteem and relationship with parents and society. Developing a strong reading habit is crucial in the child’s early stage and even after they mature. Make sure to include reading a part of their daily routine such as during bath or before going to bed.
Go for books your kids love to scroll to rather than making the reading habit a daily chore.
10. Covering mouth while coughing
Kids need to learn that even they might be a source of infection to others. Teach them how to use a tissue while coughing and sneezing and how to use their elbow without spreading germs to others. Though it is unlikely they would do it, constant reminders may work. Especially when the world is battling a pandemic, it is paramount to teach safe habits to kids early on.
Just practice using his/her elbows when they aren’t sick, so it becomes a habit and they might eventually do it.
11. Say please and thank you — important social habits for kindergarten
Good manners need to be taught right from a small age. As a parent there are certain things that you should abstain yourself from saying to your child. Educate your children about magical words such as “please” and “thank you” which could create a difference in many situations. This creates positivity and also allows us to be nice to people.
Using this from a very small age shows that the kid is properly raised with social etiquette displaying kindness and respect.
12. Food is fun with family
Mealtime is important. Just like how we have time for play and sleep, kids need to understand that there is time for eating and this time needs to be spent with the family and not before gadgets or TV.
Train your kids to focus on mealtime which means spending time at the dinner table along with the other family members. Follow our tips for taking a child to a restaurant, this teaches your child table manners, how to use the cutlery and how to patiently wait for food and for their turn to talk.
Conclusion
Teaching healthy habits for kindergarten at early stages is crucial as what they learn during the early days is what they will be following. As parents, it is important to encourage healthy habits in children early in their life, and it is never too late to start.
It is important to teach children during their early stages about the meaning and importance of healthy habits. As parents, we become their role models, we need to make sure that common parenting mistakes are not committed as they see and learn from what we are doing in front of them.