5 Hidden Behaviors that Undermine Your Child’s Commitment to Health
1. Following diet trends like Juicing, Paleo, Low Carb, etc. It doesn’t matter what health trend you are referring to, the bottom line is that if it’s focused on one food, or eliminates certain foods, IT IS A DIET! Diets may get quick results for some people but they do not teach kids about healthy behaviors that can sustain long-term weight loss and wellness.
2. Commenting on their food choices. We know how difficult it is to hold your tongue when your child is making a food choice that you don’t agree with, but making comments promotes feelings of judgment and resentment. You also run the risk of hurting your relationship with your child. The best thing you can do when you see your child making an unhealthy choice is ask them to track that food so they create their own awareness.
3. Keeping red lights in the house. Don’t want your grandkids to make unhealthy food choices? Don’t keep tempting foods in the house! Testing willpower is not an effective method of creating sustainable health the way that creating a healthy environment is. Get rid of the red lights and replace them with green and yellow lights and watch your child’s health habits transform.
4. Commenting on their appearance. To support your grandchild’s new healthy lifestyle it is crucial to focus on the healthy behaviors and not on the number on the scale or how they look. Commenting on looks encourages your child to focus on the external which can lead to neurotic behavior, rather than on how they feel. When kids are paying attention to how they feel, they are likely to make the healthy choice so that they feel good.
5. Not being a good role model. You can’t expect a kid to make changes if you aren’t making changes yourself. Kids and teens look up to you for everything, especially when it comes to eating and exercise habits.
Getting on the same page as your grandchild about your health and weight loss intentions is the first step towards a happier, more joyful and balanced life.
The second step is coming up with a game plan like tracking your food, using a health coach to help keep you accountable, or meal planning.
The third step is execution and sticking to your goals even if you guys sometimes fall off the health wagon. Anticipating barriers in you and your grandkid’s health journey is a smart way to avoid derailing your best efforts.
As health coaches, we see families engaging in a range of behaviors that tend to be automatic, and therefore hidden, but still undermine a child’s commitment to a healthier life. Simply having awareness around the 5 hidden behaviors that undermine your child’s health can boost the success for everyone’s health goals.
Kurbo provides the first mobile-based health coaching and weight management program for kids, teens, and their families. See whether Kurbo is right for your grandchild, try a Kurbo coaching plan for free today!