Each New Year is a new opportunity to focus on making positive changes in your life. While this is a great habit for everyone, it’s especially important for parents. Why? Because the choices that you make not only benefit you, they have a direct effect on your child’s health, too!

Here are 3 parenting resolutions to consider for 2012:

1.  Instill a love for physical activity. Physical activity provides countless benefits. So, it’s important to help your child develop healthy habits at an early age. In addition to gymnastics, The Little Gym of Arlington-Mansfield has several physical activities for kids, such as Gymnastics, Sports Skills, Karate and Dance, which can help your child develop a love for an active lifestyle.

2.  Establish healthy eating habits. Keep healthy, yummy snacks on hand and set an example for your child with your own food choices.  When planning meals, involve your children in shopping and meal planning as well as promote low fat meals that follow the government's MyPlate guidelines (www.myplate.gov). This allows you to reinforce your child’s healthy meal options and helps children discover new foods and flavors.

3. Focus on your child's positive behaviors. Like adults, children respond to favorable comments and adopt behaviors that gain them attention. Try to get in the habit of catching your children “at their best.” Providing encouragement for good behavior or for achievements in sports or other physical activities is a great way to motivate children to maintain good habits.

While you help your children develop healthy habits, don’t forget to make resolutions for your own health as well. In fact, consider resolving to get some well-deserved “me” time this year. Planning some time away from the kids should be considered a necessity rather than a luxury. Plus, brief separations are beneficial for kids as well. Time away helps foster a feeling of independence and builds bonds with other adults such as grandma, a favorite neighbor, or The Little Gym instructors. And if you need a parents night out, our Parents’ Survival Nights have got you covered!

As we start the New Year, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to assist so many children in the Arlington/Mansfield area develop an appreciation for fitness and fun with our gymnastics and parent child classes.  To find out more information about our program or to schedule a free introductory class, please contact a team member at (817) 465-9296 today!