5 Healthy Habits for Kids | Elle Olive & Co.

This post was sponsored by Align as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As adults, we have healthy goals and habits for ourselves. It’s important, however, to have those goals for our entire family, including young children. Young kids are at an age where behavior can easily become habit. It’s important to stress habits that will lead to a lifetime of health and well-being. My kids are still young and what I really love is how they are starting to ask questions and truly understand things. When I share why something is unhealthy vs. healthy, they ‘get it’ and ask questions. I know they are at that perfect age where what we do for them now, is the groundwork for what they will do for themselves later.

Below are 5 Healthy Habits for Young Kids –– and yes, there are many more, but focus on a few at a time until you see that your child has ‘mastered’ or formed a habit out of each behavior. Then you can focus on a new one.

Get Active

This should be a lifelong goal – and getting active at this age can be fun! An hour on the playground, a big open field to run across and around in with the dog (as pictured!) or introduction to sports or dance.

Hydrate – with water

We keep our kid’s water bottled filled all day. They know to ask for more water and to sip on their water all day long -not just with meals. We do not keep juice or sweet drinks in the house. We do have milk and they are limited to choose milk 1x per day. Every other time, they know it’s water. We don’t restrict them to NEVER have juice, but they understand that it is only something they can have at a party, sporting event or special occasion.

Teach Kids about Balance

As I touched on, we don’t say “never” to things – but try to teach our kids that we have to make healthy choices most of the time. Keep healthy snacks on hand and don’t say never to ice cream or candy. Teach kids that those things are not something to make a part of a daily, healthy diet.

Washing Hands

When you think of how many surfaces young children touch – and how fast those hands end up on their face or in their mouth…..Establish healthy habits like hand-washing before meals, after playing, when coming home from school and of course, after using the bathroom Vitamins and Supplements

Vitamins and Supplements & Safety

We teach our kids that most of the vitamins they need come from the foods they eat – vegetables and fruit. Encourage that your kids eat these, try these and help you prepare these often.

You can also educate your children that you, their parents, will help by giving them vitamins or supplements, and that they should never take these on their own. Align Jr. – Align’s new great-tasting chewable for kids aged 6-12. It can help children achieve digestive harmony, no matter what kids’ day-to-day throws at them – such as busy mornings, stress, etc. All of that can disrupt the natural balance of good bacteria.

Facts about Align Jr.

Align is the #1 Doctor and Gastroenterologist-recommended probiotic brand‡ now comes in great-tasting chewables for kids age 6-12 years old.
Parents often consider several approaches to help their kids fortify healthy digestive systems, but a great choice is to offer your kids a daily probiotic supplement like Align Jr. which can help support your child’s digestive health.*
Probiotics are good bacteria that provide a health benefit and are essential for many vital body functions, including healthy digestion.

ǂ Among gastroenterologists and doctors who recommended a brand of probiotic in an AlphaImpactRx 2016 Survey.