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As a parent, finding ways to help your children make healthy choices is essential. By sharing the right information, modeling certain behaviors, and helping them learn specific skills, you can give them a robust foundation that will serve them well as they reach adulthood. If you aren’t sure where to begin, New Life Family Outreach shares some ways that parents can help their children make healthier choices.

Talk About the Future
Spending time talking with your child about their dreams can be an excellent way to help them make healthy choices. You can discuss what it will take to achieve their goals, giving them insights that may help them prioritize activities that will keep them on their desired path.

However, modeling the desired behaviors is essential if you want to make sure they’re committed. For instance, if you’ve wanted to earn your WGU business degree, signing up for an online program lets you become a good example. You’ll have enough flexibility to manage your other responsibilities, all when you show your child that achieving your dreams is possible.

Make Healthy Eating Fun
If you want your child to make smart choices regarding food and nutrition, your best bet is to make healthy eating fun. One great option is introducing your kids to cooking as early as possible. They become engaged by letting them handle small, age-appropriate tasks as you create a meal. This can make them excited about mealtime, all while giving them foundational cooking skills that they can build upon as they age.

It is also wise to learn how to make healthy versions of any unhealthy foods they enjoy. By doing that, you can show that it’s possible to eat right while enjoying a great-tasting meal. Plus, since it requires a bit of creativity, you can teach them to see the potential in foods, including items that they might assume they wouldn’t like. You’ll broaden their horizons while ensuring they’re meeting their nutritional needs.

Discuss the Digital World
Today, the digital world is a big part of life. While the online landscape is a wonderful tool, it can also come with certain risks. As a result, you want to talk with your kids about what they could encounter.

For example, while engaging in online games like Animal Crossing, Among Us, or Fortnite or while watching Twitch streams, your child may encounter all kinds of people, including some that may mean to harm them. Bullies and predators may be in these digital spaces. Additionally, scammers may be part of the landscape.
Talk with your child about what to do if they encounter strangers and the importance of not sharing personal information or account details. Also, make sure they know what to do if they feel threatened or are inappropriately approached by someone online.

Additionally, it’s wise to discuss the impact of device use in general. For example, U.S. News & World Report notes that screen time has been linked to insomnia, developmental issues, and other concerns. BBC News reports there’s also evidence that social media apps are designed to be addictive, potentially leading to unhealthy behaviors.

Use that information to develop a device use strategy with your child. Let them play a big role in deciding on the limits. That way, they understand the why behind the plan, making them feel empowered while teaching them to make healthier choices.

​Image via Pixabay
 
New Life Family Outreach provides Christ-centered mentoring, practical support, and prayer for those experiencing challenges related to pregnancy, abortion, or abuse. Connect with us today for more information! 336.887.2232

By Emily Graham

First-time parenting is like nothing else in life. You’re thrown into the deep end with a tiny human who is all yours to care for and there’s no instruction manual in sight. Luckily, there are many helpful apps available to help you manage with confidence and grace. Check out these five options from New Life Family Outreach for making the newborn parenting life easier.
 
1. Glow Baby
When you first bring a baby home, everyone is going to be tired and overwhelmed. Keeping track of feedings, diaper changes, naps, and other daily events can be overwhelming if you don’t have a system to help you.
 
Glow Baby does all that and more. Need to keep a log of your baby’s bowel movements for the doctor? Want to keep track of the little things like feeding sessions and the big things like monthly milestones all in one place? The Glow Baby app has you covered, and you can share it all with your friends and family as desired.
 
2. Mommy Save: High Contrast Baby Visual Stimulation
Sometimes you'll do everything you can think of to soothe your baby, and your little one still will be fussy. That moment is the perfect time to whip out Mommy Save: High Contrast Baby Visual Stimulation app that uses visual stimulation to calm little ones. Using a variety of movements, shapes, and interactions, the ad-free app grabs the attention of your baby and soothes them. A paid version lets you access even more music and game screen options.
 
3. Sleep Baby Sleep
Few parts of parenting can be as tricky as trying to get your baby to go to and stay asleep. The free Sleep Baby Sleep app knows this and offers assistance in the form of white noise options to help get your little one settled into a sweet sleep in no time. Sound options include running water, fan, and womb sounds, and you can start and stop it manually or use the handy timer feature to plan your white noise sessions ahead of time.
 
4. The Wonder Weeks
For baby development, there aren’t many apps that can compete with The Wonder Weeks. Babies are constantly changing and developing, and it can be difficult to understand and predict these changes in behavior. The Wonder Weeks app helps you keep track of your baby’s developmental milestones and understand what the app refers to as your baby’s “mental leaps” that can influence behavior. The app not only offers tips about how to manage each leap but also includes many impressive extra features, such as a 4G WiFi baby monitor, e-books and audiobooks, and music.
 
5. Redfin
Sometimes what you and your baby need requires thinking outside of the box. If you find that your family is struggling to make it work in your current home, let the Redfin Real Estate app help you find the perfect home for you and your growing family. With filters to help you narrow down your new home ​needs and video tour and virtual walkthrough capabilities, the Redfin Real Estate app can make finding the right home a walk in the park.
 
5. Miscellaneous Apps
In addition to the above, it pays to round out your app arsenal with a variety of helpful apps to make life at home easier. Scheduling apps like Cozi have won families over for its ability to easily manage appointments, chores and errands. ZenBusiness points out that other helpful apps, particularly for parents who work from home, include Evernote, which is excellent for note-taking and to-do list prep. And for busy parents who need to use an iPad or their iPhone, GoodReader offers access to PDFs, zip files and other typically incompatible files.
 
While the newborn phase can be overwhelming, it is also the perfect time to establish good parenting habits. Take advantage of technology and let it make your life easier so you can spend less time worrying and more taking soaking up every moment with your beautiful baby.