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Strategies For Families

Strategies for Families

The preschool period is such an exciting developmental time for your children. Each day they are learning more about themselves and the world around them. As you watch them grow and develop it is important to remember that this is a time when so many health behaviors can be established. They can learn to love physical activity, explore new foods, and pay attention to their body’s signals for hunger, thirst, and rest.

How to Grow a Healthy Preschooler

  1. OFFER VARIETY: Serve a variety of new and familiar fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. After 10-15 exposures, most preschoolers will accept and enjoy new foods. HOPE’s Nutrition Tips.

  2. BE CONSISTENT: Serve meals at the same time every day.

  3. DRINK TO HEALTH: Give children 4 to 6 cups of water throughout the day, especially after active play. Serve low-fat or non-fat milk, limit fruit juice to one serving, and never offer soda to preschoolers.

  4. CREATE CALM: Turn off the TV and get rid of other distractions during meals and snack times to encourage mindful eating. Relax and enjoy eating together.

  5. DON’T JUDGE: Let kids decide how much to eat of the healthful foods you offer. Avoid “clean plate rules,” and rewarding or punishing kids for what they choose to eat.

  6. TALK HEALTH, NOT LOOKS: Talk with kids about building healthy, strong bodies. Avoid messages about being fat or thin or having an “ideal” body size.

  7. LISTEN: Encourage children to express feelings and help them problem-solve so they don’t need to “eat their feelings” or rely on food for comfort.

  8. DON’T USE FOOD: Do not give or take away food as a reward or punishment for good or bad behavior.

  9. PROMOTE PLAY: Make sure children have at least one hour of active play each day. Limit TV and other screen time to 2 hours a day. HOPE’s recommendations for how to Get Your Family Active

  10. SCHEDULE SLEEP: Make sure preschoolers get the 11 to 13 hours of sleep they need. HOPE’s recommended Sleep and Bedtime Routines

Download PDF of HOPE Best Practices.

HOPE’s Helpful Hints for Families:

Nutrition Tips (en español)
Sleep and Bedtime routines (en español)
Get Your Family Active (en español)