If the child is overweight, teach them healthy eating habits. Rather than restricting calories, or restricting a food group or a favorite food, it's better to help them develop sound eating habits with a balanced diet. Families don't eat together often and tend to snack constantly. We don't need to cut out snacks completely but have scheduled times when the snacks will be available, and then have some healthy foods for the children at those times. Parents should establish regular meals and snacks for the family.
Exercise is also important.
Try to play more with your child. This may include bike riding, walking, jumping rope or participating in an organized team sport. It's really important to be careful what we say to children with regard to weight. Children can interpret a negative comment to mean the parent doesn't really love them, or doesn't accept them for how they look. It is important for their self-esteem to feel loved and accepted for who they are, not how they look.