Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Linking children’s health to their habits

BETTER PARENTINg: A panel discussion on ‘Heathy Habits Make Healthy Children’ in Coimbatore.

COIMBATORE: Awareness level should be raised about developing healthy habits to make children healthier. This was the conclusion of the panellists at the discussion held on “Healthy Habits Make Healthy Children” here recently.

The discussion brought out ideas and simple suggestions to enhance the overall wellbeing of children. It also sought to bring in early intervention as opposed to treatment for some conditions relating to children. One of the key points highlighted at the discussion was the role of the parents in establishing discipline and leading by example.

The speakers underscored the need for creating awareness among parents as they played an important role in the habits children formed and on sensitising the children on dental health. Parents were cautioned against malnutrition which was highly prevalent among the children.

In addition to dental health, great emphasis was laid on inculcating healthy toilet habits during formative years. Parents were also warned against being carried away by the flood of advertisements on packaged foods being unleashed through the electronic media. Wrong food habits would only lead to diseases like diabetes, gout, arthritis, cancer of the uterus and breasts, they were warned.

Panellists highlighted the importance of the media in playing a significant role in creating awareness on health and lifestyle and spreading the information through the youth and the children by making them the `agents of change.’Children were urged to eat foods rich in fibre, a balanced fat intake, and quality wholesome food. They were told to exercise regularly and refrain from consuming alcohol.

Vinu Aram, Trustee of Shanti Ashram; Alka Nichani, Social Worker and Writer; J. Srikanth, Director of Sankara Institute of Management; Lalitha Prakash, Secretary of K’Sirs International School; S. Deepa, Clinical Psychologist; G. Baradha, Professor, Avinashilingam University for Women; P.K. Sangetha, Lecturer, CMS College; U.K. Lakshmi, Professor, Avinashilingam University for Women; Sunil Kumar and P. Kalpana, both Dental Surgeons, were the panel members.

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