Health begins in the family and is not just the absence of illness - it is a sense of security, belonging, empowerment and the habit of taking care of ourselves and others, and these habits are learned from an early age, the Institute of Public Health (IJZCG) announced on the occasion of May 15 - International Family Day.
"The family is the first and most important environment in which a child adopts basic habits, values, love, empathy, social norms, and behavioral patterns. Through early interactions, a child develops skills that help them build healthy relationships and navigate the wider social environment. Through everyday habits, relationships, conversations, patterns, and behavioral models they experience in their family, a child adopts a set of values, including those related to health. This includes the principles of proper nutrition, regular physical activity, balanced use of digital devices (phones, televisions, tablets, computers), as well as healthy and open communication," the statement reads.
They said that establishing healthy habits in the family doesn't have to be difficult.
"Consistency in daily activities such as eating lunch together can have multiple benefits for the overall health of family members. Regular shared meals can influence greater emotional connection and a sense of security in children. Also, when participating in the preparation and eating a meal together, family members can develop important psychosocial skills: listening, sharing, expressing opinions. A family meal can be an excellent opportunity where children will learn, according to the adult model, why a healthy diet is important and what the basic principles of a healthy diet are. Research shows that children and adolescents who eat meals together with their family three or more times a week have healthier eating patterns, are less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits, and have a more adequate body mass than children and adolescents who eat meals in a family environment less often (less than three times a week), "adds the IJZCG.
They emphasize that regular physical activity is an extremely important habit for overall health and well-being, which children can most easily adopt in a family environment, if it is established as an important family activity.
"A study by the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro on the prevalence of obesity in children aged seven (COSI study) showed that every fifth boy and every tenth girl is obese. The most dominant cause is an environment that supports excessive food intake and lack of physical activity. In addition, the same study also showed that the number of hours spent in front of screens increases significantly during weekends compared to weekdays, although parents report that children spend more time playing outside the home during weekends compared to weekdays," the Institute says.
They said that through consistency in healthy family habits, children not only learn healthy habits, but also develop a sense of responsibility for their own health.
"Children learn the majority of psychosocial skills and life habits precisely through observation – through what adults say, but even more through what they do. Through everyday experiences in the family, children develop habits and values that accompany them throughout life – in the way they relate to themselves, to others, how they make decisions and take care of their health and well-being. These first lessons, although often learned imperceptibly, are connected to their choices and lifestyle in adulthood. Therefore, it is extremely important that adults consistently apply the behaviors they want to see in their children – whether it is a healthy diet, regular exercise, respecting rules related to digital devices or emotional literacy. Adults are the first role models, and the family – the first classroom of health and social relationships," the statement reads.
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