This week I had an interesting modeling moment with my kiddo. I rarely get sick, but I’ve had a pretty bad case of bronchitis for a couple weeks. A few days ago I had a coughing fit while my little 11-month-old guy was playing next to me. As soon as I was done, he looked up at me with a mischievous smile, fake coughed a few times, then grinned at me, super proud of himself. I had to laugh at his eagerness to mimic me, but it got me thinking. Our kids watch us super carefully and love to be just like us. In this case, I was a little embarrassed to be his role model. It’s time to kick this bronchitis for good!
You are your kids’ favorite person in the entire world and they want to be just like you (whether they’ll admit it or not). They pick up on the little things you do, including at the kitchen table and in the grocery store. You have more power than you realize! And kids are more observant than we often give them credit for. By modeling a good example related to food and nutrition, your children will learn and model the same behaviors. Here are some questions to think about …
Do I have any foods my kids know I refuse to eat or do I at least try a taste of everything?
Do I eat when I’m hungry and finish when I’m full?
Am I distracted when I eat or do I focus on my meal and the others at the table?
Do I have anxiety about any foods or situations related to food or am I usually cool and collected?
Do I stick to my list at the grocery store or do I sometimes pick up extra items because they look good in the moment?
Do I eat just because I’m upset, angry, or sad?
Do I eat any special foods I don’t allow my kids to eat?
Just some food for thought! Whether we are modeling great food habits or less than ideal ones, our kids are watching. We don’t have to be perfect (because none of us are!), but modeling those behaviors we want our kids to demonstrate will take us a long way in creating healthy, confident kids.