Help Parents Take Action - Healthy Choices at Home

Positive Role Modelling

Kids watch and listen to the adults in their lives. While they're most likely to adopt the attitudes and behaviours they observe in their parents, other influential adults such as relatives, teachers and coaches also play a key role.

How Role Modelling Affects Kids

• Most young children learn to enjoy new foods over time if:
  • They see others eating and enjoying new foods.
  • They don't feel pressured to eat a new food.
• If you eat more fruits, vegetables and milk products, your kids will eat more too.
• If you're active, your kids are more likely to be active.

These examples are all positive. But unfortunately kids can pick up on our bad habits too - for example:

• If you diet, your kids are more likely to diet.

Ways to Lead by Example

Being a positive role model is a big responsibility. But it's also a great opportunity to:

• Help your kids develop a healthy foundation for being active, eating well and feeling good about themselves and their bodies.
• Improve your own self-care.
• Examine your personal attitudes about weight and dieting.

Check out ideas for becoming the positive role model you wish to be.