As a parent, it is your honor and privilege to raise a future adult with a strong sense of self. But, like all parents, it is also your responsibility to showcase healthy habits that encourage your child to live their best lives despite the challenges that they will face. Today, guest author Dorothy Watson from Mental Wellness Center shares tips for parents.

Maintain a happy home

One of the most important things that all parents can do is maintain a happy and healthy home environment. This begins by keeping your home neat and tidy and making sure children have access to healthy food, filtered water, and plenty of outdoor spaces and natural light.

Cultivating a sense of responsibility in your children is a key aspect of their personal development, and one effective way to do this is by involving them in maintaining their playroom. Ensuring that they participate in keeping their playroom picked up not only helps to keep your home tidy, but also teaches them important life skills such as organization, accountability, and the value of taking care of their belongings. By making clean-up part of their playtime routine, you are helping them understand that every action has consequences and that they have a role in maintaining their environment. This hands-on approach can go a long way in fostering responsibility and independence in your kids.

Showcase healthful dietary habits

It is not enough to simply have healthy foods available. You also have to show your children how to prepare and enjoy things like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. One way to do this is to make healthier snacks accessible, and only eat chips, cookies, and other “empty calories” sparingly. By offering nuts, smoothies, cheese, or whole fruit, you keep your kids from being hungry, but these foods will provide the energy they need to get through their day.

Offer love and support

All children, and especially those coming to terms with nontraditional sexuality, need love and support. Make a point to show affection in all ages, and remember that this will have a lifelong positive effect on their behavior. Even if you don’t show physical affection, be there to listen anytime they need you.

Exercise together

Exercise serves as physical activity, but it’s also a great time to bond. Spend time with your children by exercising together, which might mean taking an older child out for a walk or light jog in a pedestrian-friendly area of town (use a walk score map to find the best spots) or simply playing in the backyard with your younger kids each day. Finding ways to spend time together and being active is highly beneficial.

A quick tip here: Make sure that you are fully equipped for your activity of choice. If you’re running, for example, invest in well-fitted shoes that are designed for your specific activity and foot build.

Encourage openness

Children who feel like they can come to their parents with anything will. Be age-appropriately open with your children about everything from money to sexuality to the temptation to use drugs and alcohol. You’ll also want to give your child access to professionals they can go to for guidance if they need a little extra helping hand.

Health insurance is a vital resource when it comes to covering the costs of your child’s therapy or counseling visits. Most health insurance plans provide coverage for mental health services, including therapy and counseling. However, the extent of coverage can vary depending on your specific plan.

If you find that your current plan doesn’t adequately cover these services, or if you need to purchase a new one, consider shopping on the healthcare exchange. This platform offers a variety of health insurance options from different providers, allowing you to compare plans and choose the one that best meets your child’s therapeutic needs. It’s important to ensure that your child has access to the necessary mental health support, and having the right health insurance plan can significantly ease this process.

Indulge responsibly

Even if you do not have a family history of alcoholism or drug addiction, you must be acutely aware of how you imbibe around your children. Children with parents who turned to alcohol and drugs for release are more likely to do the same. This does not mean that you can’t have a drink every once in a while but do indulge responsibly and remind your children that alcohol and illegal drugs are not meant to be an escape.

Raising a child in today’s world poses challenges never faced before. Fortunately, as parents, we still play a significant role in our children’s mental and physical well-being. By modeling healthy habits, such as eating well and exercising, you will arm the youngest members of your household with the confidence they need to move forward in their lives despite any hurdles they may face.

— Dorothy Watson, Mental Wellness Center