1. Watch your diet
A balanced diet is essential for your child’s growth. Make sure they eat everything (fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains, dairy products). If you can, avoid industrial dishes and processed foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and salt as much as possible. Finally, be vigilant about bad eating behaviors. If your child eats too much or not enough if they have a particular relationship with food, talk to your pediatrician.
Discover the different eater profiles listed by dietician Cécile Marie-Magdelaine and what attitude to adopt depending on the profile.
2. Encourage physical activity
Did you know that your child should do at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day? This is essential for:
- strengthen muscles and bones;
- promote good cardiovascular health;
- limit weight gain;
- stimulate cognitive development;
- boost his self-confidence.
On a daily basis, you can combat a sedentary lifestyle by organizing walks, outdoor games or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator. In addition to this, we advise you to register him for the sports activity of his choice which should be practiced at least twice a week.
Discover more information on physical activity and its benefits.
3. Take care of your sleep
Your child needs adequate and restorative sleep. To do this, he must sleep between 9 and 11 hours per night. Is his sleep not enough? Don’t hesitate to establish a bedtime routine and a calm environment without screens or stimulation. Is he suffering from night terrors or recurring sleep disorders? It is advisable to talk to your pediatrician or a child psychiatrist without delay.
4. Ensure personal and oral hygiene
As he becomes more independent, teach him the importance of good personal hygiene. You can make him responsible by encouraging him to wash his hands frequently, cover his mouth when he coughs or sneezes, or wash his body and hair. Regarding oral hygiene, he must learn to brush his teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to do the right thing.
5. Regular medical monitoring
Even if your child is healthy and does not have any particular symptoms, we advise you to schedule regular visits to the pediatrician. These consultations allow us to monitor his growth, and development and detect possible health problems.
6. Know how to detect “DYS” disorders
5.7% of school-age children suffer from “DYS” disorders, i.e. learning disorders:
- dyslexia (reading);
- dysorthography (written expression);
- dyscalculia (calculation);
- dysphasia (oral language);
- dyspraxia (coordination).
Often, it is the teachers who will detect the first signs. If your child is affected, quickly consult a pediatrician who will be able to set up a multidisciplinary care pathway: orthoptists, speech therapists, psychomotor therapists, and occupational therapists. Depending on the health insurance taken out with Unéo, coverage is possible if these professionals are approved. Learn more about DYS disorders.
7. Take care of your emotional health
As important as physical health, your child’s emotional state must be taken seriously. To do this, you can create a warm and secure family environment, promote open communication, encourage the expression of their emotion, and offer them emotional support. Do you notice that they are anxious, have difficulty,e s or are developing a school phobia?
It is good to listen to their concerns and react by talking about it at school or by offering them a consultation with a child psychiatrist ( consultations that can be reimbursed thanks to Unéo ).
8. Set a screen time limit
Even if your child lives in the digital age, it is important to limit their screen time. According to the 2017 Public Health report, children spend an average of 4 hours and 11 minutes per day in front of screens, much more than the time recommended by specialists on the subject (from 30 minutes to 2 hours). Memory, reactivity, physical fitness,o and concentration are all affected by screens. Why not encourage them to develop their creative and manual talents? Need more ideas? Find our expert advice to explore this topic further.