Family Values Healthy Lifestyle-Asset 31

Family Values Healthy Lifestyle

This week’s asset is the last of our Positive Values Assets and addresses the importance of the family living a healthy lifestyle. For this asset to be solidly in place for a child, his or her parents and other significant adults need to model, monitor and teach healthy habits, attitudes and principles. When this happens, children learn to take care of their bodies, to respect themselves and others and also learn healthy attitudes around sexuality.

While I know many parents are already aware of this responsibility, let me start from scratch in terms of suggesting where to get started on investing in this asset for your child and your community. One of the first things that needs doing is for parents and other significant adults to examine their beliefs, values and views about health and sexuality. The question to be asked is, “Am I living the lifestyle I want my children to learn and live?” Also ask the more general question, “What else do I want my children to learn about living and personal and intimate relationships?”

After gathering the answers to these questions, find ways to get your messages across. For example, you might explain to your child as you eat a meal which foods are proteins, which are carbohydrates and which are fats. You might also explain how eat food group benefits our bodies. Of course, you may need to educate yourself on these food facts first. Another example, would be to teach you child or children about personal boundaries by explaining they have the right to decide who touches them and when. For instance, before holding their hand, ask, “Is it alright if I hold hands with you?” While this may seem too formal, the point is to teach them that others should respect their boundaries enough to ask permission to touch.

Another thing parents can do is to be attentive to and responsible for the type of media your child is exposed to. This can include having magazines around the house that are about health and well-being, as opposed to magazines that focus on glamour and superficial aspects of living. Also, parents should look for television programs and movies that also depict healthy lifestyles and relationships. Being aware of these media forms, I know these healthy models may be hard to find. The other option is to watch movies or television programs with your children and when you see that healthy behaviors are not being modeled, you can use that opportunity to do some values clarification. After the movie, explain to your child what you saw as inappropriate or unhealthy about the programs and why.

Other things you can do to model and teach healthy lifestyles are: help you child make healthy choices eating, sleeping, bathing, grooming, physical activity and healthy relationships. You should model for your child loving and caring relationships through your relationships with your spouse and significant others. Also, keep educating yourself on healthy living and this will teach the value of learning as a part of being healthy.

As usual, if you want more information on this asset, please feel free to contact me via phone or email. Remember, if you value your health, so will your child!