Many experts recommend children from the ages of 5 to 12 to obtain 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. However, the average child sleeps 8 to 10 hours per night. Obviously some children require less while others require more sleep than others. It's important to note - well rested children tend to do
Raising a healthy child goes beyond the basic needs of providing food, shelter and clothing. It requires parents to invest resources - time, energy and money – to nurture their children. A child doesn’t wake up one day and assume the role of a socially responsible and ethical person.
Since our children bring us tears of joy, we used the acronym, tear, to help remember what it takes to raise a healthy child. Parents need to perform the following:
- Teach – instruct or help your child learn;
- Encourage – give praise when necessary, if they do a good job tell them;
- Adjust –correct unacceptable behaviors and guide them in the right direction; and
- Reprimand - scold a child and use punishment that corrects or strengthens.
Raising a Healthy Child
As I watch my children grow up, it is vital that I equip them with the knowledge to make the right choices because good choices lead to good consequences; alternatively, bad choices lead to bad consequences. Will my child choose a healthy snack, e.g., apple vs. candy bar? Does my child possess the ability to walk away when another child talks negatively about someone behind their back? To help you raise a healthy child, we will provide articles in the following areas: nutrition, fitness, well-being, and spirituality.