ASK THE EXPERT
QMYfour-year-old daughter is overweight, but we struggle to get her to eat healthy foods and try new things. How can we talk to her about weight and eating in a way she’ll understand? ACHILD
psychologist and early years teacher Hannah Tranah, right, childcare development manager at Storal Learning nurseries (storal-learning.co.uk), says: “For very young children, avoid any discussion around weight, size or BMI – these metrics are not the best indicators of health. Instead nutrition and physical activity play a more significant role. So the focus should be on the amazing things eating healthy foods and exercising can do for our bodies, like giving us energy to run, jump and play.
“Children copy behaviour, so if adults consistently criticise their own bodies or the bodies of others, they’re likely to take on this negativity too
“While it’s critical for children to gain an understanding of why a balanced diet and exercise is important, for very young children the most effective approach is ‘less talking, more doing’. To make lasting change, lifestyle adjustments should be gentle and fun. Healthy eating should be a priority for the whole family. “As the parent, you have the most control over what the family consumes, so cut down on the junk and make healthy swaps in stages. “Try not to worry, as children’s tastes often change with age. Ensure your daughter is given the same food as the rest of the family and you all eat together.
“Praise her when she tries something new and be patient if she’s slow. This ‘gentle changes’ approach also goes for physical exercise. Getting children into the habit of exercising when they’re young is easier than when they’re in their teens or in adulthood,
“Try out different forms of exercise as a family (even if it’s walking to school instead of driving) and see if there are any physical activities your daughter might be interested in. This might take trial and error, but pace it gradually – don’t enrol your daughter in five new hobbies at once. Take your time with it and you’ll be sure to find something she enjoys.”