Kids, Happiness & You

Your child’s happiness depends on being well-adjusted, both physically and mentally

There are two major factors that threaten to take the smile off our child’s m face; stress and obesity. Here’s how you can help keep them beaming ear-to-ear throughout their childhood.

Stress

The most common things that stress your kids are grades, school, homework, family, friends, and teasing. Kids deal with these anxieties differently depending on their personality – a majority may release stress through play and some may find it helpful to talk to their friends or parents. However, some children may vent through overeating eating, watching TV or just listening to music.

A recent survey by UNICEF found that 35% of Singaporean children said getting good grades made them happy. However, the anxiety of exams is stressful. Nearly half of the kids surveyed said they would be sad if they didn’t perform well. The survey also found that many children fear failing examinations more than their parents dying.

A survey shows that 25% of children confessed to hurting themselves through hitting, biting, banging their heads on walls and so on. Children may even blame themselves for their setbacks, giving rise to feelings of shame or anger. Managing your child’s stress levels is therefore, very important.

75% of children surveyed confessed that they want their parents to be by their side when they are troubled. Also, they found it comforting to have their parents talk to them, spend time with them, help them resolve their problems or just cheer them up.

MCYS (Ministry of Community Development, Youth, and Sports in Singapore) study on Marriage and Parenthood showed a high number of parents are concerned about their children’s future and have high expectations that they do well.

Helping Kids Reduce Stress

You can help them develop skills to beat stress, here are some ideas:

• Eat healthy. A healthy body can better withstand stress-induced illness. Schedule regular meals and don’t allow your child to skip meals.
• Exercise is a good stress reliever. Buy active toys like balls, punching bags, and bicycles. Make time to play with them. Time spent with your kids can open up the lines of communication.
• Be consistent with rules and discipline. Kids live in a “black and white” world. Inconsistencies can be confusing.
• Gentle physical touch is a great healer. Try a gentle massage on your child’s neck and shoulders. This also helps build a stronger bond.
• Be a good listener. When your child relates a problem, don’t criticize. Sometimes, it isn’t even necessary to give advice. Your kids may just need to talk.
• Teach your kids that everyone (including you) makes mistakes. Admit your mistakes and say “I’m sorry” when you goof-up.
• Use relatable examples. Tell your kids personal stories of stressful situations from your childhood, and how you dealt with them. This helps your child see their problems from a different perspective and learn from them.

Obesity

Increased calorie intake comes from high-calorie foods such as fast foods and snack foods which are readily available and often very tempting to kids. Unused calories from junk foods are stored in the body as fat. Couple this with a lack of physical activity and you can see how obesity can occur.

Children who are obese are also more likely to become obese adults. Obesity later in life may lead to heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Managing What Your Kid Eats

Make gradual but permanent changes in your child’s eating. Do this:

1. Don’t buy sugary products for breakfast. Prepare a bowl of rolled oats sweetened with a little raw honey or fruits. Or cut up some fruits for a salad and sprinkle with some chopped nuts.
2. Eliminate white flour from your home. White flour is devoid of nutrients and can cause a sharp rise in blood glucose and a drop that results in tiredness. Substitute white bread with wholemeal or get sprouted whole grain bread that contains no flour.
3. Soft drinks don’t hydrate the body, rather they dehydrate. Try fresh juices. Invest in a juicer and get your kids involved by letting them pick the fruits for their drinks.
4. Make your own peanut butter with the Alpha Juice Extractor. This ensures freshness without the added sugar or hydrogenated oils. Vary it by making almond or cashew butter – they’re healthy and delicious at the same time.
5. Make your own healthy snacks. Try these:
   • A wholesome dip, or homemade peanut butter with raw fresh vegetables
   • Avocado on wholemeal bread
   • Organic fruits
   • Vegetable juice
6. Stop using margarine and shortening. Substitute with real butter and organic coconut oil in your baking.
7. Involve your child when you go grocery shopping. This teaches your kids about good eating habits. They may also be more willing to try out foods they helped to prepare.

Increase your child’s physical activity to help them, and you, burn some calories by:

• Taking your child for a walk or a run
• Bringing their friends to play in the park
• Dancing
• Scheduling family play times
• Parking a little further away to necessitate walking
• Using the stairs instead of the lift

Your children look up to you, so be a great role model. Remember, when your child follows a healthy diet the whole family benefits! What your child learns today will be with them their whole lives, so encourage them to eat better and don’t back down when they complain. You can, however, bend the rules on birthdays or special holidays, but make sure that you maintain good eating habits at other times.