Pediatrician-Approved Wellness Goals for 2025
2025 is well underway, and we hope yours is going well. Likely, you have established goals for yourself regarding health and happiness. We know your family’s health is essential to you, so we’ve listed eight wellness goals to help your children stay healthy in 2025 and build memories that last a lifetime.
Check seat belts for safety. When did you last do a seat belt safety check for your child? Kids grow fast and can quickly outgrow car seats. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents and caregivers keep children in rear-facing seats as long as possible (ideally, this applies to most children up to age four), as this is the safest way for them to travel.
Ensure your child is up-to-date on their vaccinations. Most children don’t look forward to getting shots when they come in for their well-child exams, but they are critical to keeping kids healthy. The AAP recently updated its vaccination schedule. You can find it here.
Make self-care a priority that you model to your children. As parents and caregivers, we often prioritize the health of our children over our own. While this is commendable, your health is a priority too. Model self-care and let your children see how you do things to be as healthy as possible. Perhaps this means going to the gym to exercise or the doctor’s for a physical. Maybe you take time for friends or date with your partner or spouse. You deserve to be healthy and happy, too.
Be ready for anything with a family disaster kit. North Carolina has its fair share of natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Prepare basic supplies such as a first-aid kit, water, flashlights, batteries, charges, and non-perishable foods to be ready in the event of an emergency. The AAP provides these suggestions for putting together a family disaster kit.
Get on the same page on digital usage. We live in a digital world, and it is not uncommon for very small children to spend way too much time on devices. Create a family media use plan that outlines rules for media usage that align with your family values. A few examples include not having devices at the dinner table. But remember, you must also follow the rules you set for the family so you can lead by example.
Commit to spending more time outdoors. Yeah, we know it is winter, and the cold can make it less appealing to spend time outside, but the outdoors is so beneficial to one’s mental and physical health. Research has shown that spending time outside, especially in nature, calms the mind, thereby reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus, and decreasing the risk of depression. Plus, playing outdoors is excellent for kids’ and your health. So get outside and make that one of your family wellness goals for 2025.
Cook meals together. Families that cook together are less likely to have kids that are picky eaters. Plus, cooking as a family allows kids to learn family recipes they can pass on. Instilling the value of knowing how to cook a good meal is important, and your children will reap the benefits of it for life. To begin, ask your kids to choose a dinner they’d like to have and make and ask them to help shop for ingredients (knowing to check produce before buying is priceless!).
Read together every night. One of the best ways to build your child’s language skills is to read to them. Make a bedtime story part of your evening ritual. As your child grows, ask them to help identify words. An audiobook can be a great way for teens to enjoy a great story. Or better yet, start a book club with them, read the same story, and talk about the characters and what’s happening in the book. Pregnant? Research has shown that reading to your baby while still in the womb is a great way to bond with your baby and helps them recognize your voice.
2025 is going to be an excellent year for you and your family. We hope these wellness goals inspire helping you to connect with your family while keeping them and you happy and healthy. Cheers!
