Term four is over and it's time for summer break! A big change in routine is a great opportunity to implement new healthy habits. Kids are notoriously quick to adopt expectations and painfully slow to let them go! What happens in the first 6 days of the holiday will likely set the tone for the whole 6 weeks. Habits such as eating cocoa pops in front of the TV every morning will fast become the norm and any deviation will be considered a rude imposition.
Start as you mean to continue! Kids enjoy a lot of festive treats at this time of year so it’s a good idea to cut back on treats at ordinary meals. If you are not out celebrating it’s healthier for kids to expect snacks such as fresh summer produce and protein-packed options such as cheese, nuts and natural yoghurt. This takes a bit of shopping and planning but it’s well worth it to improve the snacking habits of the whole family. It’s easy to neglect family mealtimes in the term-time chaos of extra-curricular activities and homework. If your family isn’t very good at sitting down to an evening meal together now’s a great time to start the habit. Your children might be ready to learn some new skills. Most primary school aged children enjoy being involved and will take pride in assembling a salad, setting the table and pouring the water. The time you spend on teaching will pay dividends in term 1 of next year when you have confident little helpers to share the load.
It’s a good idea to limit screen time over the holidays and an even better idea to provide active alternatives. Buy Christmas presents that promote outdoor activity. It doesn’t need to be a bike or a trampoline, most kids enjoy balls, skipping ropes and chalk for some hopscotch. Plan fun outdoor activities to build family fitness. There are lots of great walks and bike rides to try out or you can make up your own adventure. Last summer my friend took our children on a wonderful “Ten Slide Challenge” where they spent a day sampling playgrounds around Auckland, taking photos at each. The best inspiration for activities often comes from like-minded friends. When you’re on the look-out for active adventures you’ll find that fun ideas pop up all the time.
Don’t let unhealthy habits develop by default when the school holidays start. Give some thought to what you’d like family life to look like, then implement the building blocks for a happy healthy summer.
Start as you mean to continue! Kids enjoy a lot of festive treats at this time of year so it’s a good idea to cut back on treats at ordinary meals. If you are not out celebrating it’s healthier for kids to expect snacks such as fresh summer produce and protein-packed options such as cheese, nuts and natural yoghurt. This takes a bit of shopping and planning but it’s well worth it to improve the snacking habits of the whole family. It’s easy to neglect family mealtimes in the term-time chaos of extra-curricular activities and homework. If your family isn’t very good at sitting down to an evening meal together now’s a great time to start the habit. Your children might be ready to learn some new skills. Most primary school aged children enjoy being involved and will take pride in assembling a salad, setting the table and pouring the water. The time you spend on teaching will pay dividends in term 1 of next year when you have confident little helpers to share the load.
It’s a good idea to limit screen time over the holidays and an even better idea to provide active alternatives. Buy Christmas presents that promote outdoor activity. It doesn’t need to be a bike or a trampoline, most kids enjoy balls, skipping ropes and chalk for some hopscotch. Plan fun outdoor activities to build family fitness. There are lots of great walks and bike rides to try out or you can make up your own adventure. Last summer my friend took our children on a wonderful “Ten Slide Challenge” where they spent a day sampling playgrounds around Auckland, taking photos at each. The best inspiration for activities often comes from like-minded friends. When you’re on the look-out for active adventures you’ll find that fun ideas pop up all the time.
Don’t let unhealthy habits develop by default when the school holidays start. Give some thought to what you’d like family life to look like, then implement the building blocks for a happy healthy summer.
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