Advice on helping a 9yr old with being healthier?

Shellbell2807

You probably have enough advice already! but having been in your daughters place I had to through my 2 cents in. I am only 18 so I can't claim to be an expert on anything! but I can offer a different perspective on things...

In my opinion the best way to do it is through role modelling. If you want to encourage exercise ask her to come for a walk with you or go for a bike ride. Or you could try to find a new sport she is interested in. Don't push her, if you try and force her into a sport she hates she is going to end up hating exercise in general. don't give up! you will find something she enjoys (For me it began with badminton, now I run too) In terms of eating try to pack healthy lunches and a healthy dinner, experiment to work out what she likes.

Keep in mind that kids often put on a little weight before they grow. With out changing much at all I grew into my weight within a year or so and now everyone says I'm too skinny!

As I said I am definitely not an expert in parenting or nutrition! But if you take nothing else from this please take this into account. Don't focus on her weight! don't weigh her, don't talk about your concerns in front of her, don't do anything to make her feel like she isn't good enough just the way that she is. As a result of my parents efforts to help me I became fixated on weight. I felt like I wasn't good enough unless I was 'skinny'. Tell her how beautiful she is, focus on the things she is good at. Make being healthier something you do together not because either are you aren't perfect just the way you are but because it's healthy and fun

good luck xx

trudijoy

Sticker chart.

Have daily goals like 'Played outside' Ate fruit/veggies' 'Didn't eat junk food' 'drank lots of water' and give her a sticker for each one she achieves, with the understanding that if she achieves a set number of stickers a week, then she gets to pick from a prize list. Have THAT filled with feel-good options like 'Mum will do my hair and make-up' 'I can go to a movie with one friend' 'I can spend $10 at the $2 shop'. Whatever, just stuff that she likes that is all about her feeling good and having fun without food.

Kids respond best to bite sized chunks and this way you're teaching her to track the elements of a healthy lifestyle without having to quiz her or watch her or her feeling like it's all over if she screws up.

BarbaraLee15

Maybe start bicycling with her. Or going swimming with her. Soccer? My daughter at 32 STILL is athletic because soccer got her going. Example? Food options in the home? I am sure you have thought of these. Perhaps slowly one by one remove favourite snacks and replacement with healthier options... incrementally so she is not ... blown away by changes. Good luck.

JLN1974

Unless she is eating a lot of junk food, it is probably better to just get her more active, enrol her in a sport she enjoys - maybe dancing or gymnastics, get her cycling or walking, anything which is fun and doesn't seem like work. A little less TV possibly if she tends to have a sedentary lifestyle.

mazmataz

Hey there. Being a parent is tricky isn't it! Some suggestions from another mum.
- Do not mention the word fat, heavy or diet. If you talk about the situation with her at all mention health.
- Make healthy changes a family thing like going to the park or not having certain foods in the house. This will let her know it is not all about her.
- also be aware that sometimes children bulk up a little before they have a growth spurt.
- make sure she eats healthy food most of the time and moves her body.
Hope some of these suggestions help!

I love this advice! I don't have children but will offer a cautionary tale from my own childhood: I was always a bit chubby for my age as a child. Instead of handling it like freekat suggested, my mother made me feel bad about it as if being chubby was my fault. I was out on endless diets, in adult weight watchers and weight loss classes as a child, and given exercise as chores when my thin brother had none of these things. It was humiliating, and I grew up being ashamed of my body and resistant to exercise and advice because I'd learned to dread it and become defensive about my growing weight problem. I was even anorexic for a time as a young teen and was praised for my trim figure instead of realizing what was wrong. I think if my mom had blamed me less and been more positive about a healthy lifestyle, I wouldn't have thought I was bad because I was chubby and would have grown up with a healthier relationship with food and better self esteem.

Get your daughter active, but don't obsess about her midsection. Get the whole family eating healthier, teach about portion sizes, etc., and keep it positive and I'm sure she'll be better for it in the future

On the back of this - the flip happened to me. I was a chubby child and my parents (both overweight but slim as teenagers/young adults) weren't concerned at all...they assumed that it was 'puppy fat' and that I would grow out of it. Although I'm glad they didn't make an issue of it, other people did. And sometimes I do wish that they had stepped in at some point and stopped it in it's tracks...but then again maybe that's just me trying to shift the blame of my weight onto someone else. Who knows? It's all very complicated, especially when it involves children.

I think that for kids, the best thing you can do is encourage an interest in a healthy/active activity...and not too much on diet. I can't imagine anything worse as a kid than having carrot sticks for lunch when all of your friends have 'fun' food. At least with the sports angle, there are other life-long benefits i.e. socialising, teamwork, discipline...and it won't seem unusual to her peers. Oh and also, I really believe in instilling self confidence in kids...no mattter what you look like or what your background is, success is 99% confidence.