They can understand the consequences of their choices. Talk to your children about how strong their bodies are and the extraordinary things their bodies can do. All these things can be taught in fun and imaginative ways with drawings, stories, etc. Children are fascinated with their bodies and they want to know how they work. They will actually live longer and more productive lives if they learn wellness as very young children.
Parents frequently make statements that reinforce a sickness attitude.
A wellness approach would be to say, You are so strong and healthy that you probably won t develop a cold, even if the other kids do, but here is a scarf to keep you warm and comfortable outside . Dr. Dyer also cautions us to resist taking frequent trips to the doctor and using medications for everyday aches and pains and common ailments such as a cold. When we teach children that there is a pill for every complaint and that a doctor visit is part of every cure, we disempower them and set them up to rely too heavily on drugs and doctors throughout their lives. They need to know they are in charge of their own health. In order to teach our children to choose health, we must model wellness and take charge of our own health.