Weight management with children using their dominant sense

Posted in health
by Lorain County Moms

By Priscilla J. Dunstan, McClatchy-Tribune

With President & Mrs. Obama’s recent Nutrition bill, I thought it would be a timely to look at obesity and the senses and how we as parents can help our children.

Tactile children are energetic busy little people. Often too busy to eat, they tend to grab snack foods, and prefer the quick meal. Nutrition issues arise if they are unable to be as energetic as they’d like, either because their schedule doesn’t allow it, or they need to spend many hours indoors — it makes it super hard for them ti sit down long enough for a meal. The trick in these situations is to view their nutrition longer term, over the course of the whole day. Keep healthy snacks, and feed them on the go — foods like apple pieces, carrot sticks, and healthy cereal, like cheerios in container. Consider offering just one food at a time, perhaps as you drive in the car. You’ll have a captive audience and the child will have only a healthy choice. Try to schedule group exercise daily even if it’s just a walk, or Mom or Dad playing basketball in the park.

Auditory children will like balance and routine. You may find in times of audio stress — lots of noise from traffic, crowded places, etc., — that they will tend to eat thoughtlessly. You might find her in front of the TV bingeing on crunchy chips. This is an indication that they need calming! Take a quiet walk, or have a chat about the day, and possibly what’s bothering them. With exercise, the venue matters. Too noisy and they won’t focus, too empty/echoing, and it will hurt sensitive ears. Outside sports or exercise that require rhythm and sequence work best. As they get older, exercise which incorporates music will be a favorite. For food, serve well balanced meals at regular times, limit snacking and try to leave time for lots of conversation.

Visual children are very conscious of how they look to others, and being overweight really effects how they feel about themselves. However, this type of thinking makes them prone to distorted views on body image and food. It’s important to teach them to have a healthy attitude towards both. Adopt the same attitude toward eating that you take toward other must-do things with life, such as tidying up, showering and doing other house hold and personal chores. It’s easy to get caught in the visual trap of feeding them processed foods, as they are made to “look” good, and you know your fussy child will eat them. Instead, try to present healthy food in a visually pleasant way, make healthy food “look” better than junk food.

Taste & Smell children will eat to alleviate feelings. My research has shown a correlation between this sense and those extra pounds. These children need to learn how to deal with their emotions in other ways, or it will end up being an unresolved issue in later life. Try to make family eating time a calm and loving time — even if there are only 2 in the family. Associate good feelings and feelings of improvement with a healthy meal. Exercise is often viewed by Taste & Smell people as a punishment, so try to frame it as an addition to a healthy life. Walk to and from school, use stairs instead of the elevator, and long bonding hikes, and swims. Try to stay away from competitive sports, as this is exercise that may turn this child off.

Healthy eating, exercise and an outlet for emotions and stress will help our kids start on the track to having a healthy, productive and amazing life.

Priscilla J. Dunstan is a child and parenting behavior expert and consultant and the author of Child Sense. Learn more about Priscilla and her parenting discoveries at www.childsense.com.