A home is more than four walls; it’s a place of refuge, rest, security, fun, and development. A home is an important space for children as it will be part of their childhood. It will feature heavily in their memories and be a part of their growth as an adult.
Creating a healthy home environment is vital to good parenting. You can create a good home environment as a parent or caregiver, which can lead to a healthy and happy child. Parenting as a whole is a duty with many uncertainties, but there are a few basics that can work well for you and your child. Here are a few features of a good home and how you can adopt them in your home.
A Healthy Home Is a Happy Home
The early years are a critical stage in any child’s development. A healthy environment should cater to a child’s needs by catering to their abilities and, if necessary, their special healthcare needs. A healthy home provides for a child’s social, emotional, and educational needs. You can cater to these needs through nutrition, exercise, sleep, playtime, family, and socializing.
A child’s home environment is key to their physical health. That’s because, relative to adults, kids eat, drink, and breathe more for their size. That makes them more susceptible to harm from the environment. They also spend a lot of time on the ground, which isn’t always sanitary. Additionally, kids tend to put non-edible things in their mouths, which exposes them to germs.
Kids spend a lot of time indoors because parents believe they are safer in a controlled environment. But sometimes, indoor air quality can subject the child to hazards that make it more dangerous than outside. Some hazards include dust, pests, building materials, cleaning chemicals, car exhaust from the garage, or tobacco smoke. Such hazards can lead to allergies, carbon monoxide poisoning, and breathing problems. To keep your indoors safe for your child, you can;
- Avoid smoking or vaping indoors.
- Don’t let your car idle inside the garage or near an intake vent.
- Install carbon monoxide monitors in your home.
- Clean and dust your home regularly.
- Increase ventilation in your home by opening windows, clearing vents, and keeping doors open.
A child’s innocence is adorable, but it can also be dangerous. Keep in mind that children aren’t aware of sanitary and health practices. You have to ensure that their environment is clean and that you teach them how to keep the environment clean and that they should stay clear of germs.
Building a Healthy Foundation
No child and their environment are the same, so each will need something different. Though there may be differences, some standard parenting practices apply to most households and child development. Good parenting requires you to;
- Be consistent and intentional in all your responses to the child. They are learning everything for the first time, so you must be patient and not give mixed signals.
- Show warmth and sensitivity. At all times, you must remain their refuge and safety; many things are new to them, and they need a center (you).
- Provide structure through routines and household rules. Your child will become a member of society. They will need to learn independence and how to behave in society. This will come from the chores, manners, and rules you place.
- Spend time reading and talking to them. Children need stimulation to grow. Conversations and reading go a long way in developing their learning and social skills.
- Be a source of comfort, safety, and healing. Children can easily get scared and need to come to you for safety. You must also be their healer for all their ailments and injuries.
- Be a fair, consistent disciplinarian. Kids need to have boundaries and know what acceptable behavior is. Setting and enforcing those boundaries and behaviors will impact how safe, free, and expressive they feel.
Your child will only grow through interactions. They must interact with the environment, family, and social circles. How you prepare them for your child’s health, growth, and safety is key to all their interactions. For example, an interaction that you can prepare is the play area. It’s a good idea for children to play outside, but you have to ensure that there are no sharp objects, contaminated items, or anything that can harm your child.
You must also prepare your child for interactions within and outside your home. They must understand what is appropriate and isn’t, for example, running outside set boundaries or touching a hot stove. You will also have to ensure that your child can fully immerse themselves in the experience by giving them the appropriate tools, for example, swimming gear for a day at the pool, a helmet for a bike ride, or a pair of kids’ trendy prescription sunglasses for walks on sunny days.
A Home Is At The Center Of Childhood
Children are vulnerable, and they should be protected and nurtured. Take the time to prepare an environment in which they can thrive. The home you create will be the foundation of the people they become.
