How to talk to your kids about health without fear 

There are many ways to talk to your kids about health without making feel scared 

• Or uncomfortable.

The best ways you can talk to your kids about health and not freak them out. 

Start early and do it regularly 

You don’t have wait for a “health talk” moment or time. You can talk about it anytime, and include it in their daily life.

• But, you’ve got to have a strategy. 

And we’re here to help you with that ✅.

Talk to them during their mealtime. They’re eating, and enjoying their food, so it’s a good time to chip some health talk in.

• You can start with all the “did you know” style. 

• Talk about where food comes from 
• The reason we need different nutrients 
• And how these nutrients help our bodies 

For example: 

• “Jimmy did you know that calcium is gonna give you strong bones, and teeth?

• “You see how strong you look, it’s because of calcium buddy” 
• “Good thing is we have foods that have lots of calcium, in the house”

You can also make it fun. 

• kids LOVE fun stuff

You could do a “guess the ingredient” game.

Kids learn better when repeatedly teach them, and use real-life examples. 

Make it age-friendly 

Let your conversations flow in a way that they will understand. 

If your kids are much younger, you can use

• Stories 
• Cartoons 
• Or books. 

For your older kids, 

• Have open talks (let it feel like a chill-talk time)
• Be honest when you answer their questions. Because, older kids tend to appreciate honesty from their parents. 
• Encourage them to research topics or things they don’t understand well.

It’ll help them understand things better, without feeling overwhelmed with things they are trying to process. 

Be a pace-setter 

Gotta lead by example. 

Your kids should see you practicing what you preach. Let them see you make healthy choices too. 

• Cook healthy meals 
• Workout regularly 
• Get enough sleep
• Clean up after yourself 
• Smell good 
• Look good 

It will tell them that health is important for you too. 

Not just because you said said so.

If you tell them eating too much sugar is bad for their health

• Make sure it applies to you too.

You can’t advice them and not even take your own advice. It’s not going to help them trust or respect you. 

Use soft methods when you talk to your kids about health topics

Don’t make health seem like some dramatic thing where it feels like they’d fail or lose, if they don’t get it right.

Instead of “Why do you always want to eat  junk funk food?, do you want to get sick and then make me start worrying?!”

Try saying “ Honey let’s choose to eat foods that give us energy to play, and live better!” 

Using positive words and tone is more effective than using negative ones. 

Create a safe space 

Build your relationship with your kids to a point they can feel safe enough to have open conversations with you. 

• Listen and don’t judge.
• Give them honest answers, even if it is difficult for you.

It is good to help your kids know  they can always come to you about anything.

• Or when they’re confused.

It’ll build trust,and help them have more faith in you. 

Correct them with a little respect when you talk to your kids about health

Some people have a way of making someone feel like they aren’t smart because they didn’t know something. 

• Don’t do that with your kids, whether they are older or younger.

When you correct someone with love and respect, they would appreciate you more, and make the effort to do better. 

But  when you do it with shouts or hurtful words, it’ll be harder for them to take correction. 

Make it fun

Living a healthy life doesn’t have to be boring or so serious. 

• It can be fun. 

You could do things together as a family. Like, 

• Bike rides 
• Cooking healthy meals 
• Going for walks 
• Cleaning together 
• Dancing to songs you all love 

Fun activities make health feel so much better, and memorable.