Forming healthy habits

Healthy eating and being active

Healthy eating is essential for your child’s health, growth and development. Teaching your child to make good food choices now also makes them more likely to make healthy choices as they get older.

Find out more about healthy eating for children on the healthdirect website.

Children aged 1 to 5 years should be active for at least 3 hours each day. Anything that gets them up and moving will do and, luckily, kids love to play and be active.

Find out more about the physical activity guidelines for toddlers and preschoolers on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Smoking around children

Children exposed to second hand smoke have a greater risk of serious health and developmental problems. You can reduce your child’s exposure to second hand smoke by quitting smoking, or by making your house and car smoke free areas. 

Find out more about smoking and tobacco and children on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Personal hygiene

Keeping clean kills germs and helps your child avoid getting sick. 

You may have to help your child practise good habits, such as washing hands. Find more about teaching your child good hygiene habits on the healthdirect website. 

Dental care

Caring for your child’s teeth and teaching them good oral health habits is important. Decayed baby teeth can cause problems when their adult teeth come through.

You should help your child get into a regular tooth care routine. Regular dental check-ups should begin from the age of 1.

Find out more about dental care for children on the healthdirect website.

You can also find out about getting help with the cost of dental services.

Good toilet habits

Learning to use the toilet can take time and patience, and every child is different. Most children are ready to start toilet training when they’re around 2 to 3 years old. But, it’s important to wait for signs your child is ready.

Find out more about bladder and bowel for children on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Mental health

Kids need good mental health to deal with challenges, feel happy and have healthy relationships. Safe and secure relationships are the most influential factors in a child’s life. Getting enough sleep, eating well and being active is also important.

You can find out more about:

• kids and mental health on the healthdirect website
• toddler mental health and wellbeing on the Raising Children website
• preschoolers mental health and wellbeing on the Raising Children website.