This post was sponsored by the National 4-H Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
The first time I didn’t go to summer camp was at the end of 5th grade. Before that, my mother had enrolled me in camp every year, and looking back, I wish I hadn’t talked her out of it that year. I gained a lot of weight over that summer due to inactivity – and unfortunately it just kept coming on. My mother worked hard and didn’t realize it right away – time passed quickly and I became less and less active.
Empowering Your Children With Life Skills To Last A Lifetime
I don’t want to see the same thing happen to my children. Having the knowledge of my own past inactive lifestyle, I try to ensure that the same doesn’t happen to my own children. I feel that having the education and knowledge about making healthy living a part of our everyday lives is important and key to the overall well-being of the entire family. With knowledge and information, families can make informed decisions for a healthier lifestyle that benefits everyone in the family.
It’s a well-known fact that healthy habits are best implemented early in life. It is likely the reason parents begin solid food introductions with veggies and fruits. I know I did, and continue to serve veggies at each meal, as well as always ensure there is plenty of fruit available at all times – and more importantly, within reach. But it’s not just starting early, it’s also having and using the proper knowledge. While most toddlers and preschools do start to get finicky or picky at some point, it can be just as easy to redirect them to nutritious options by setting examples.
The same with can be done with being active. After dinner we enjoy taking the dogs on a nice long walk with the girls. Even when Papa and I are exhausted, habit has already set in and the girls will push us out the door. There are so many things my children teach me daily, and so much that as adults we can learn each day by listening to our youth. Together, children and families become empowered to live healthier lifestyles and establish life long habits.
Important life skills such as building friendships, eating healthy, learning to cook, exercising, team sports, good sportsmanship and being overall good people, are crucial to children’s development.
National 4-H Council Wellness 360
If you aren’t sure in which ways you can support your children, you should look into the programs offered by 4-H and their Wellness 360 campaign, supported by Target. From nutrition education and cooking classes, to yoga and lessons on avoiding risky behaviors, your children will have the knowledge and confidence to learn to lead healthy lifestyles. They can even teach you what they’ve learned so the entire family can get on the right track!
Empowering your children, and especially your teens, benefits not just themselves, but also their friends and their community. 4‑H healthy living programs help youth lead lives that balance physical, mental, and emotional health. Teaching them the life skills they need to carry with them throughout life, 4-H Wellness 360 has everything your teen needs to live their best life.
Find your local 4-H program in a community near you!
4-H Wellness 360º | Supported by Target
About 4-H
4‑H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Kids experience 4‑H in every county and parish in the country—through in-school and after-school programs, school and community clubs and 4‑H camps.
Get social with 4-H using #4HWellness360 and share which life skills you believe are most important for children to learn.
Comments (12)
Life long skills are important to develop starting at a young age. It’s great. I didn’t know target had this
I had no idea Target had this program. I do know the importance of developing good eating habits and exercise habits at a young age though.
Great article, thank you!!!!
So true that something like 4H isn’t utilized like it did years ago, and it can definitely offer skills and knowledge that many kids aren’t getting now…don’t underestimate the development of social skills in programs like this.
I really enjoyed this article. I wish my kids were still young, but my teenager and I push one another to eat healthier and go for walks; soon it will be just the two of us at home, so it will be even easier for us to follow and keep up with these healthy habits 🙂
That’s very practical. Kids to have every advantage they can get.
Life skills to last a life time ….. that is something that each child needs
Kids do copy their parents and a lot of them do what there parents do.
Yes, life skills are so important to teach your children! I homeschool my kids and definitely agree that they are sponges and copy everything that I do. I try to set the best example that I can.
Great article for any busy mother!!!!!!!
I think hands-on really is the best way to learn new skills. It’s full of valuable lessons.
4-H is a great program, and we used to have a gal from 4-H help us when we had a few farm animals. The life skills of building friendships, eating healthy, learning to cook, exercising, team sports, good sportsmanship and being overall good people are good to start young, get kids on a good start!
I think teaching your kids life skills at an early age is so important. I started helping in the kitchen at about age three and I have used this skill all my life.