Helping a child grow and develop is truly a full-time job. As a parent, you want to make sure that you do right by that responsibility. However, figuring out what that takes is often easier said than done. When it comes to growing bodies, every little decision counts.
In this article, we look at five key metrics that play the biggest role in your child’s growth and development.
Sleep
Children need quite a bit more sleep than a person might first assume. In fact, until the age of 18, the average recommendation for daily sleep hovers around 10-12 hours. Children need more sleep than adults for the simple reason that their bodies and minds are still growing.
Getting enough sleep not only helps them to get bigger, but it also improves their metabolism and cognitive function, allowing them to grow better mentally as well as physically.
Naps can be used to help hit daily sleep recommendations, but it is usually more impactful to meet a child’s resting needs with continuous sleep. The brain goes through cycles during rest that may not be able to accomplish what they need to do if there are regular interruptions.
There are several ways you can improve your child’s sleeping patterns:
Speech
Most parents worry about their child’s speech development skills at some point. While most children will hit the occasional linguistic road bump here or there, most make it through childhood without requiring the services of a speech professional.
There are plenty of ways you can help your child improve their speech skills.
Eating
The deck is stacked against parents who want to introduce their children to healthy foods. Between food marketing and the atrocities found on children’s menus all across the country, it is quite hard to elevate a young pallet beyond the realm of “chicken nuggets.”
Try anyway! Doctors recommend five servings of fruit and another five of vegetables each day. Making children hit their nutritional benchmarks helps them grow while also setting them up with a lifetime of good habits.
Exercise
Experts recommend at least an hour of vigorous exercise every day. Not only will this help to regulate their weight, but it will also strengthen their cardiovascular system, and prepare them for a lifetime of healthy physical activity.
Prioritize family activities that involve elevating the heart rate. Hikes, sports, and even family walks are all good ways to bond while staying active.
Social Interactions
It’s never too early to start socializing your child. While they will get many peer interactions when they go off to school, you can get a head start by looking for children’s activities within your community. YMCA classes are a good way for your kids to meet people, and many libraries will feature great children’s programming that is at once educational and full of opportunities for social interactions.