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SKOWHEGAN — Somerset Public Health and the Move More Kids program are reminding parents they play a major role in their children’s ability to make healthy choices. Parents and guardians are the number one role models for children, and children will often copy what their parents are doing. September is a great time to start some new habits as kids are going back to school and may be adjusting to new schedules. The following are some great tips around eating healthy, reducing screen time, and helping your children feel rested in the morning.
Encourage your kids to eat breakfast every day, whether it’s at home or at school. Breakfast gives you the energy to start your day and helps you focus on work or school. If your kids aren’t hungry, or there’s not a lot of time in the morning, start small with a piece of whole grain toast and banana, or a yogurt cup.
When packing lunches at home, think about filling half of their lunchbox with fruit and veggies. The other half should be split between protein and a whole grain. Some ideas for healthy lunches are:
Cottage cheese, whole wheat crackers, and raw veggies with dip
Whole wheat tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and veggies, and grapes
English muffin pizzas with low fat cheese and veggies, and an apple
The average kid has a busy day. There’s school, taking care of pets, playing with friends, participating in sports or other activities and completing homework. By the end of the day, kids need sleep. Help your child prepare for the day by laying out their clothes and getting their backpack ready. Set up a routine where kids slow down before bed, and go to bed at roughly the same time each night. Avoid screen-time at least one hour before bed, and keep screens out of the bedroom. Make the bedroom a cozy environment where your child wants to be.
TV and other electronic devices can get in the way of learning, exploring, playing, sleeping and interacting with parents and others. TVs are on for an average of 7 hours and 40 minutes per day. Let’s shake up the routine!
Some suggested screen-time rules include two hours or less of recreational screen-time each day; no TV during meal times; no snacking while watching TV; no TV during homework; limiting screen time to specific days of the week or times of the day.
For more information, call Somerset Public Health at 207-474-7473 or follow on Facebook.
