6 Tips for Raising a Happy & Healthy Military Child
Compensation for this post was provided by Procter & Gamble via MSB New Media. All opinions expressed in this piece are my own. #HealthyMilitaryKids #Salute
I’m always blown away by just how amazing my children are. We’ve moved countless times in their short lives and they’ve always been able to adjust and continue on with life as if nothing changed. Above all, it is my goal to make sure that each of my three girls is healthy and happy.
April, Month of the Military Child will be upon us next week, so I’m sharing some tips on raising happy and healthy military children.
Get into something
Putting the girls into gymnastics has been the greatest blessing. A slot finally opened up for Adri to join, so now both girls are taking classes back to back. They have a blast while getting exercise and learning new skills, as well as hanging out with other kids their age. Most bases offer sports and recreational activities for the young ones at affordable prices or even free!
Skip the soda
After having a small sip of my soda, Veronica exclaimed that it was spicy. We’re going to keep it that way! I was the mom that was still mixing water into my kids’ juice until they were like three. But even if you weren’t that mom, skip the soda. The stuff is terrible for adults; imagine how bad it is for your kids! I stopped buying it for the house and only rarely indulge when eating out. Water and milk are great alternatives!
Keep it balanced
I can proudly say that my girls love their salads! Sure they’ll consume their weight in chicken nuggets and hot dogs, but we make to balance out the bad with the good. I’ve even been buying healthier snack options to avoid the temptation of snacking on junk. Pita with hummus is a favorite around here, as is yogurt and fruit.
Dive into a book
John has done a great job of always reading to the girls. It started when each of them were first born and he read them the Constitution. Thrilling, I know. Not only do the girls love being read to, but it helps develop them intellectually. There’s this one ABC book that we used to read to Veronica when she was little. John and I still have it memorized!
Stay connected
I love how modern technology practically allows my girls to talk to our family face to face on a daily basis. Living oceans away from grandparents or close aunts and uncles doesn’t have to mean that communication has to be limited. This also applies when a parent has to be far away for duty.
I also believe that as parents it’s important that we stay connected to our children as support systems. As an adult, I know how difficult it can be to constantly be moving and having to make new friends at each duty station. I can’t imagine what it must be like for a child. It’s important to me that my girls always know that they have a family behind them to support them when they feel alone.
Take it outside
In the day and age of technology, it’s important to make playing outside and taking a break from the screen a priority. Believe me, I know how easy it is to sit the kids down with an iPad all day. Not only do they have a great time when they’re playing outside, but it’s good exercise too!
Another great way to get outside is to bring a ProCamp to your installation! ProCamps are a fantastic way to encourage healthy and active lifestyles, while giving children the opportunity to play football with an NFL player. You can help bring a ProCamp to your base by purchasing marked Proctor & Gamble products at your commissary between March 19-April 8. At these camps, kids will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to catch passes as well as receive an autograph from the NFL player.
