Online Safety and Kids
Last month, I shared the fabulous news about my family and the new project that we are working on: We are a Digital Joneses Family! What's Your Security IQ? I even linked to an...
As a mom, you want to instill good habits in your kids and teach them how to lead a productive and healthy lifestyle. There are so many great habits you can teach your children, no matter how old your kids are or when you start teaching them these habits, leading by example is one of the best ways to teach your kids about anything. While kids learn things in a variety of ways, kids often learn best by copying Mom and Dad. By bonding through learned experiences, your child can learn by the way you lead. We hope that this 10 Habits Moms Should Lead By Example With post inspires you.
Your kids look up to you, and that means they want to be like you and do what you do. While many parents take the approach of “do what I say, not what I do,” it routinely works so much more effectively to lead by example and show your kids how you do things so they can follow suit. They love you, and there are so many ways to set them up for a good future all while taking care of yourself in the process. Here are just a few habits moms — and dads — can lead by example with.
No matter who you are, it’s important to get enough sleep every night both for your physical and mental health. While you definitely won’t need as much sleep each night as your kids, setting your bedtime and having a sleep schedule of your own is a great way to encourage your kids to get some shut-eye.
Drinking enough water can be a challenge for people of all ages, but when your kids see you sipping down water, they’ll likely want to do the same — as opposed to watching you drink sodas or iced coffee, which might spark similar cravings and curiosities in them.
It’s no secret that everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day. One of the most important parts of practical hygiene and self-care is brushing your teeth. Sometimes, kids don’t want to brush their teeth if they’re feeling tired or fussy, but brushing for two minutes, morning and night is important for their long-term growth and health.
Just like brushing, flossing is an important part of oral health. When your kids see you flossing, they’ll be much more likely to pick up the habit when they see you doing it at least once a day. That way, when you make your family trip to the dentist, they’ll be satisfied with everyone.
This one might be a bit more specific to older kids and teens, but seeing you take care of your skin might be the perfect motivation for them to get on a skincare routine of their own. Taking care of your skin is a part of taking care of your health and hygiene, and there are so many basic routines out there. Even just using a cleanser and a moisturizer can do the trick.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and as kids reach middle and high school, the temptation to skip grows stronger, especially with school and busy schedules. While telling your kids to eat breakfast can work, nothing is quite as effective as eating together or making sure they see you eating your breakfast so they know the habit is life-long.
Whether there’s a pandemic going on or you want to make sure your kids have proper hygiene before sitting down for a meal, hand washing becomes a much more solidified habit when you do it as a family.
Skin cancer, sunburns, and skin damage are serious issues, especially over time. While wearing sunscreen as an adult can protect you from cumulative damage, much of the sun damage that impacts people long-term happens before the age of 18, so slathering it on in the younger years can be more helpful than you realize.
Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most crucial car habits to keep you safe in the event of an accident. Some kids may think it’s cool not to wear their seatbelts, though, especially if they see Mom taking hers off and see it as a privilege of adulthood. Instead, it’s best to put safety first as a given in the car.
While many of these habits share a foundation of hygiene, health, and safety, there’s one more important thing that parents can pass down to their kids by example — living a life of kindness and good manners. When they see their parents doing good deeds and saying please and thank you, they’ll want to copy and spread kindness, too.
As a mom, there’s nothing you want more for your kids than to lead a life of happiness, health, and wellness. While teaching them good habits can help them get there, leading the way can help you reach those goals together, as a family. Which of these habits are you going to start leading by example? We hope that this 10 Habits Moms Should Lead By Example With post inspires you. Good luck!
10 Habits Moms Should Lead
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