Why Should You Care: The Importance of Early Childhood Health Education
Kelly Bolsch, February 19th 2021
When many people talk about health, they typically bring up eating fruits and vegetables, making sure they exercise every day, and getting enough sleep each night. Most people believe that if they do these few things, then they are teaching their children how to have a healthy life too. Actually talking about health and the importance of making certain decisions is often overlooked. Health education is about more than just talking about healthy habits. It is about talking about the negative effects that can come from not following those healthy habits and the sicknesses/ diseases that can be prevented if followed.
There is so much more that health can teach us and so much more it can do for children at a young age! By teaching your children health and healthy choices at a young age, you are setting them up for an overall healthier and sustainable life! Education in health is more than just getting their commended amounts of physical activity and following the MyPlate nutrition guidelines. Health education teaches individuals how to handle stress in a healthy manner, understanding the importance of proper sleep hygiene, how to create healthy relationships, how to express your feelings in a successful way, and how to truly understand yourself as an individual. It is about being able to talk openly about the possible struggles of healthy living and being able to lean on your supportive loved ones for help. Being able to talk freely about making health-conscious decisions and being there to support each other throughout life, is one of the most important topics in health education.
Early childhood education is important because it allows for the growth and development in all areas of health. At a young age, children are learning how to handle life stressors, how to make friends, and finding out who they are. If they are taught at a young age how to deal with those stressors and how to manage their lives in a healthy way, then they will be well equipped for all that life tosses at them in the future. Early childhood health education impacts children in areas such as social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development — and healthy development means a healthy life!
Be your child’s health educator! Be their role model and embrace health and healthy life choices. If you embrace those healthy choices with open arms and lead by example, then I am sure your children will embrace those choices too! Early health education promotes good health, a sustainable lifestyle, and the knowledge of how to deal with whatever life throws at you. If children are given that education at an early age, then they will be better prepared to make their own healthy life choices as they grow up.
There are so many positive aspects of health and so much good that can come from it. So why not start early and teach your children about health so they too can lead a happy, healthy, and successful life!
“Health is the greatest gift; contentment is the greatest wealth”
Buddha
Transformer Kelly 🙂
The Transform Lifestyle Medicine Alliance Team
Transformer – Kelly Bolsch
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