Afternoon Grocery Adventures

Azri transforms the grocery shopping experience into an exciting family adventure. He explains, “I chat about healthier ingredients when buying food. In turn, it motivates them to eat healthily, particularly my youngest one, who tends to be more selective about vegetables.”

Diving into Evening Swims

To conclude a hot day on a cooling note, Azri often brings his children to swim for some fun in the evenings. "I integrate sports as part of our family bonding and incorporate active lifestyle practices into our routine as much as possible — whether it's indoor or outdoor, from a physically light walk in the park to competitive activities such as swimming!" This not only helps to boost his family's physical health but also spark joy in his children.

Taking Care of Mental Health Too

Azri acknowledges the value of mental well-being, hence he constantly teaches his children the importance of emotional regulation “so that they will know when and how to express their feelings". His commitment to nurturing this behaviour has reaped positive benefits as he and his children now forge stronger father-child connections, fostering a supportive and safe environment where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings openly.

To Azri, good health is not just about eating healthy and having an active lifestyle, but a shared journey that strengthens the bonds he holds dear in his heart. With Parent Hub as a one-stop parenting portal, Azri has found many valuable tips and ideas for him and his family to build healthy moments. So can you! Stay healthy and connected with your family.

Every Day Is Mental Health Day!

“We prioritise mental health.” Pui Yi emphasised. “We deliberately structure our work schedules to maintain a good work-life balance, so that we have time to be physically present for our children.” The parents commit to eating dinner with their children every evening no matter how busy they are.

“We also share bedtime rituals where we cuddle with our children in bed, and share about our day and how we feel. This is a very important part of our lives as it helps with family bonding.”

Their dedication to family time builds trust and allows them to set good examples for their children in expressing and regulating their emotions in a healthy manner.

Little Habits, Big Impact!

Reflecting on her journey so far, Pui Yi says:

“This has been a great reminder that us parents have the biggest influence on our children. They see what we do and copy us, so we must keep healthy not just for ourselves but for them too. We will continue to model healthy habits for our children, and hope this will help them develop good habits for their own future families.”

“I Felt That a Change Had To Be Made.”

Noticing how her daughter kept wanting to watch shows even during mealtimes, Harini realised that her daughter had become addicted to digital devices and began reading up on how to develop healthy screen time habits for her daughter. She was determined to make a change and started by incorporating small and engaging offline habits into their daily routine, which gradually reduced her daughter’s screen time.

Harini shares some of their favourite activities and tips:

• Spending more time outdoor together as a family such as visiting the park. This allows her daughter to run freely and explore her surroundings. Harini says, “I always encourage her to observe the world around her now, to spark her curiosity and expand her knowledge beyond the confines of screens”.
• Practising simple exercises in their morning routine, with gentle stretches and breathing techniques to relax the mind.

“Providing Parental Support From Both Sides Was Not Easy, but Now My Husband Is On-Board Too!”

Initially, Harini’s husband was uncertain on how to support his wife and their daughter. His enthusiasm grew after seeing the little changes in his daughter. As she became less addicted to digital devices, he became motivated and decided to start small. He started taking their daughter to the library. Now, going to the library has become a regular weekend routine, which not only helps to further reduce their daughter’s screen time but also fosters her love for learning.

"My husband would narrate her favourite story books and bring back books to read at home. She's now naturally inclined towards books especially colourful story tales with illustrations. I've observed that her screen time has been reduced significantly." Harini explains.

“Besides Reducing Her Time Spent on Digital Devices, I Also Prioritise Healthy Eating.”

From active living to healthy eating, Harini adds that she always shares about the benefits of healthy foods to her daughter. "I teach her the importance of healthy eating, using simple phrases like 'milk has calcium which gives you strength' and 'drinking water makes you glow’”, she shared. Learning the significance of consuming fruits and vegetables, her daughter has gradually developed a fondness for oranges and broccoli. Harini also models healthy eating habits for her daughter to pick up by limiting salt and oil in their daily meals.

“Parent Hub Has Been a Game Changer With Its Resources.”

Harini shares that searching for tips to reduce her daughter’s screen time had led her to discover Parent Hub, which has been an eye-opener.  The platform offers a wealth of consolidated content with many ideas for parent-child activities. It has also supported her in answering her doubts and finding new ways to engage her child.

Explore tips to enhance your parenting journey with your little one too!

Learning through Participation

By actively involving their son in meal preparations, Yan Xin and her husband have also transformed healthy eating into an enjoyable experience. “My son loves to join us in the kitchen,” Yan Xin shares. “He helps with tasks like tearing vegetables, cutting tofu, and washing rice. We even let him choose the grains and ingredients for our meals, following the My Healthy Plate guidelines.” Yan Xin shares. Along the way, Yan Xin also teaches the importance of using less sugar and saturated fats, explaining, “I encourage him to explore healthier options and natural flavours such as nuts, pandan leaves, herbs, and fruits.”

Passing Down the Role Model Torch

Inspired by his parents, Yan Xin’s son now positively influences his younger sister who is pickier about eating fruits and vegetables. During meals, he sets an example by eating the same foods and uses creative imagery like “broccolis are trees, and you must chomp them down” to make vegetables more appealing to his sister. Yan Xin proudly shares, “He’s gone from just adopting healthier habits to becoming an influencer, sharing his knowledge with his younger sister at home and friends at school”.

Wellness Beyond Nutrition

Besides focusing on healthy eating habits, Yan Xin and her husband are proactive in reducing screen time for their children. Recognising their son’s love for stories, they frequently attend storytelling sessions at the National Library and museums. Their weekends are packed with outdoor activities like swimming, sand play, visits to the playground, and botanical gardens. Yan Xin explains, “This approach not only helps the children develop healthier screen time habits but also strengthens our family bonds and promotes overall well-being.”

Yan Xin found support and guidance through Parent Hub, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period. “Browsing the platform, I have discovered valuable tips to support my children’s healthy growth”. Explore how you too can provide your little one with a healthy journey as they grow up!

Taking the First Steps for Himself

Determined to improve his fitness level, Donovan reintroduced jogging into his daily routine. "As my fitness levels rose, I could engage more effectively in physical activities with my daughters," he says. Donovan’s commitment to setting a positive example for his daughters kept him going, as he worked hard to keep active and get fitter.

Establishing a New Family Routine Together

Donovan did not only succeed in teaching his younger daughter how to cycle, but he also made cycling an important part of family time. “The day she pedaled confidently on her own was a proud moment for both of us. This achievement marked a substantial shift in our family's lifestyle. We began to engage in more frequent outdoor activities, with our cycling trips becoming a regular and enjoyable part of our routine”, Donovan proudly shares. The family usually explores various routes at Sports Hub and park connectors in their cycling trips. “Our shared experiences in these activities have not only fostered healthier habits but have also brought us closer as a family, with a shared love for outdoor activities.”

Healthy Living from Outdoor to Indoor

When the weather does not permit outdoor activities, Donovan and his wife find ways to keep their children engaged at home with simple indoor activities like reading, which also help to reduce the children’s screen time. As avid believers of role modelling, they have also instilled a discipline of managing their children’s screen use at the dining table. “My wife and I refrain from using our phones during family meals. Instead, we engage in conversations with the children to further strengthen our bonds,” Donovan explained. Reflecting on his commitment to be a healthy role model for his children, Donovan added "Whether we're outdoors or indoors, I strive to cultivate a healthier lifestyle for the family by being a positive role model for my two daughters."

You too, Can Start Taking Small Steps To Get Fitter

You can do it too – try these activities for an active, fun time together. In addition, Mums, here’s a bonus home-based workout routine for you to start getting back in share and inspire your children to love physical activity too!

Carving Out Dedicated Bonding Time

Recognising the lack of interaction with his children and not wanting to miss out on their growing up years, Dwihandi made some adjustments to carve out dedicated bonding time and cultivate their healthier habits:

1. Scheduled Family Time: Dwihandi set aside at least 60 minutes every day to do various activities with his children, such as going to nearby parks to play some hide and seek or exploring the activities around the neighbourhood. This dedicated time allows for bonding and creates a routine to stay active and being away from the screens.

   Set aside an hour of your day to join us at the Active Family sessions to enjoy a healthy dose of outdoor activities together with your little ones. Sign up today!

2. Explore Nature: Dwihandi shares that exploring nature can be done in your neighbourhood too! “We often explore the canals to learn about the diverse local wildlife around us.” This is a great way to encourage communication with his children and listen to their thoughts.

   

Establishing Holistic Wellness while Forging Meaningful Connections

"My kids now prefer going to the park over watching TV. They would frequently ask to go outdoors. It has become a part of our routine that our family looks forward to," says Dwihandi. Venturing the nature with his children had not only allowed Dwihandi to develop stronger bonds and lasting memories with them, but it has also jumpstarted the family's journey to an active lifestyle with healthier screen use habits.

Beyond adopting a more active lifestyle, Dwihandi’s wife observed that their outdoor engagements have also improved communication within the family. She has more open conversations with their children, engaging in daily discussions about their days to foster stronger emotional connections and promote mental well-being. “Having stronger relationship with my children had helped built their trust and character. They know that they can always reach out to us when they need support, hence they are now more confident”, reflects Dwihandi.

Learn how to connect better with your children with these communication tips!

Christoper is aware of the importance in managing screen use. To strengthen their social connections with others, he advocates "no phones at the dining table", emphasising that this rule applies to everyone in the family. "During meals, we focus on each other. We talk, share stories, and laugh together. It's one of our bonding moments."

Managing screen time can be made easy with these ABC tips – Active, Balance and Collaboration. Click here to find out more from Adjunct Associate Professor Chong Shang Chee, Child Development Paediatric Specialist, National University Hospital.

Embracing Healthier Living

Apart from instilling healthy screen use, Christoper and his wife also prioritise home-cooked meals (whenever possible) as they tend to be healthier and tastier. Quips Christoper, “We use healthier oils and instead of deep frying, we often consider using an air fryer as a healthier alternative.”

Christoper’s wife also involves their daughters in preparing meals, such as cooking the rice. This hands-on approach helps children build a lifelong skill to integrate healthy eating into their daily lives.

A Journey of Intentional Parenting to Nurture Healthier Habits

Reflecting on their parenting journey, Christoper and his wife encourage other parents to start building healthy habits from a young age, to be consistent, and to stay involved. "Self-discipline grows with them," he explains, “and these routines in adopting healthy habits will become second nature. It's not always easy, but the journey is incredibly fulfilling when I see my daughters grow up with these good habits."

Join us at our events for some family fun time to pick up and continue making healthier choices.