Chances are, if they've seen you do it, then they'll copy that action - it's all part of growing up. Behaviour is something that is taught. Either through personal experience or by watching others.
Leading by example also applies when you're looking at changing your health and fitness habits. How do you expect that little Miss Muppet (aged 3 years) will eat her fruit and vegies, if all YOU eat (and buy and keep at home in the kitchen cupboard) are biscuits, cakes, and other 'bad' carbohydrates and sugary, processed food?
As a distance runner, I was keen (like so many other women) to get back into my own health and fitness following the birth of my second baby. Once I built up my own pelvic floor (a story in itself...) and core fitness I couldn't wait to get back into the long runs, and more importantly, running with other like-minded friends. As it happens, a girlfriend and I made a pact while I lay in my hospital bed after giving birth to baby #2 - to run the Paris Marathon. And enjoy a fabulous tour of France and Italy afterwards. Yes, it would take time to do this. We set a two-year plan in place, knowing that the first year would be taken up with coping with a newborn, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, coping with a demanding toddler as well, and the list goes on....and on.
Eventually, when I did join up with my friends for those long runs in between breastfeeding and sleepless nights, we would constantly talk about running overseas and other adventures. My then Miss-three-year-old would greet me at the front door on return from these long runs with a water bottle in her hand and ask: "what stretches will we do today Mummy?"
Returning home after a running event on another occasion, I found Miss Three running around the backyard marking out a course for what she described as "the Paris marathon".
"Come with me Mummy, and we'll run the Paris marathon", she said. Of course I was delighted to oblige - but did point out that we would need to run around this backyard course the equivalent of 946 times to actually cover the marathon distance (so we may get a little dizzy).
The point of this story is to show just how much our own actions and attitudes are 'mimicked' by our children. If you're taking positive steps about your OWN health and fitness and making it a part of your life - whether it's changing the food that you eat, getting out for a walk each day in the fresh air, swimming, bike riding - whatever you enjoy doing doing - then this is all having a positive impact on your own children's lives and the way they see the world. Being healthy and happy - and going out for a walk or a run in the park - will just be a way of life for them.
There's a lot of truth in that saying that 'looking after yourself is the best gift you can give to your kids'. It's time to get started and see for yourself where it takes you and your family.
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