Life long habits start developing at a young age, so it’s important to help children cultivate healthy food and lifestyle habits when they’re young; plus they’re so open and eager at that age.

Children are also super intuitive, perhaps even more than adults. So if you want them to listen, learn and take to heart what you’re teaching them, you gotta be an example. If you’re not, they’ll see through that in-authenticity in you right away.

Don’t preach kindness when you are not kind.

Don’t preach eating healthy when you don’t.

The most important things I picked up from my parents were the non teaching moments; the example they set. Just watching the way they were; their habits, how they treated others, their kindness, their endless giving, their compassion, their passions, and some of their quirks;)

BE AN EXAMPLE!

Your being, your passion, the way you act, the way you speak to others…that’s where the learning really happens.

And when you do teach, make it fun! Even if it means wearing wacky outfits to help kids get excited about eating their fruits and veggies:) Cook with them in the kitchen, make fun shapes out of the fruits and veggies you put out, make smoothies together.

It gives me such joy to teach the preschoolers about the foods that make them grow strong; about eating all the fun colors of fruits and veggies, what a balanced meal looks like, how to know when they’ve eaten enough (super imp!), what makes our heart strong, the importance of sleep, drinking water, trying new foods and more.

But the truth is, they teach me more than I can ever teach them, and for that, I’m grateful and humbled every time I’m around the little kiddos.

We can learn so much from children, especially in health and wellness.

Adults resist change; children embrace change!

Adults often aren’t present; children always live in the moment.

Adults worry too much; children laugh easily and are care free.

Adults get hurt and hold on to pain for too long; children get hurt and easily let it roll off.

Children are truly the best teachers of health and wellness for us adults. Perhaps if we pick up some of their child-like qualities, we’ll be healthier…physically, mentally and emotionally.

Tip for the week:
How can you be a positive example to your children or the children around you this week? And what can you learn from them to be a better parent, teacher, aunt, uncle or friend?