Promoting Healthy Habits In Teens

Teaching teens healthy habits is key to coping with the physical and emotional changes of this stage. Can parents do anything to help? Read on to find out.

Promoting healthy habits in teens is essential. The WHO (World Health Organization) defines adolescence as the stage of a person’s life between the ages of 10 and 19. As you can imagine, this stage has many physical and psychological transformations that shape a person’s perception of themselves.

In addition, the construction of their identity is at its peak, so parents need to have some strategies in place to address this to promote healthy habits in teens. Teenagers are no longer children, but they are not adults yet either.

This is why parents need to have time and attention for them to give them the necessary tools so that they can grow up. Let’s take a look at some strategies you can use to promote healthy habits in teens.

Strategies to Promote Healthy Habits in Teens

There are three stages in adolescence: early, middle and late. Growth is a key factor to consider in each of these factors (Spanish link). Therefore, teenagers need to learn healthy routines in order to develop properly. So what must be taken into account?

Support the formation of their personality

Each stage of adolescence has emotional characteristics that will affect their personality. It is fundamental for parents to pay attention to this, as it is a way to direct your children’s preferences towards activities they really enjoy and thus promote their well-being.

Plan meals

Nutrition is undoubtedly a key factor in all stages of adolescence. This is because a good diet is a determining factor for both their physical and mental growth and health. Therefore, parents should plan meals in advance and, if possible, consult a nutritionist to promote healthy habits in their teens.

Promote recreational activities

Recreation and sports are as important a supplement to teen health as nutrition. Having fun activities with teens can strengthen emotional bonds. Also, getting into the habit of doing things together will help them appreciate positive family memories in the future.

What healthy habits can be encouraged in teens?

It is difficult to encourage healthy habits in teens because they are often unruly and stubborn. However, there are some strategies that can facilitate this process. Let’s see what they are so you can put them into practice.

1. Healthy eating

Junk food intake by teenagers is a subject that is constantly under scrutiny. Unfortunately, few people are used to eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, even though these products are essential for strengthening the human immune system. So if you have teenagers at home, follow these recommendations:

Find out what their favorite fruits are and always keep them in plain sight. That way they are always there when it’s time for a snack. Fruit is a good ally because it can quickly satisfy the need to eat something sweet.
Make sure they never skip breakfast. This first meal of the day is the key to getting energy and nutrients. It can do wonders for someone’s health as long as they eat healthy products. Unfortunately, teens often overlook that and replace it with junk food.
Nuts and seeds are very nutritious and thus a great addition to the diet of teenagers. In addition, they are easy to store and carry in their packaging for later use.

Promote the consumption of water and healthy drinks. Make sure they always have a bottle of water available. At the same time, avoid industrial sweetened drinks and soft drinks. These drinks are often the cause of serious health problems, such as diabetes and obesity.

2. Emotional Stability

Body changes during adolescence can lead to all kinds of insecurities that often manifest in the form of:

stress
fear
mood swings

To avoid these emotional problems, it is good to involve them in activities and conversations that make them feel good about themselves. It is also important to let them enjoy their free time with their friends.

3. Sports and physical activity

There are many ways to be physically active, so it shouldn’t be difficult to choose something that suits your teen. Getting enough exercise is one of the most important habits in teens to encourage. This is because it is a determinant of their medium- and long-term health. Here are some simple activities they might enjoy:

Walking or jogging
Sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, etc.
training at home
making bike rides
Go to a gym

4. Social life

Teens practice many of the values and habits they learn at home and begin to make their own decisions when they interact with other young people.

Therefore, they should have the opportunity to hang out with their friends and have a social life. This way they learn to be more independent from their parents and you may prevent them from developing social fears.

5. Getting Enough Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is another healthy habit to encourage in teens. This is because sleeping well helps their minds to process the activities associated with the development of their knowledge.

So try to provide them with their own pleasant space in the house. A place where they can sleep peacefully and perform other activities that require silence and concentration.