Welcome to Exan's Wellness and Life Skills Program

Five tips for nurturing a healthy family

  1. Be committed to your family. Being committed to your family means truly believing and acting as though your family will be together forever, in good times and in bad. Plan and solve problems together, with common purpose and direction. This doesn't mean negating each other's individual personalities; rather, it means validating and supporting one another.
  2. Instill healthy habits in your children. Encourage all family members to pursue a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest and rejuvenation. Since habits learned in childhood last a lifetime, ensure you're teaching and modeling healthy behaviors to your kids. This is especially important when it comes to nutrition and physical activity, given that children today are growing up in an environment that's not especially conducive to healthy eating and exercising.
  3. Encourage and facilitate open communication. Don't try to bury problems or avoid conflict. Instead, be honest -- but never brutally so -- with the rest of your family. Be specific about what you need or expect. Always speak out of love and concern; never try to belittle or "guilt-trip" them. Share your own feelings, thoughts and experiences, and be open to theirs. When talking with your children, listen both to words and non-verbal messages. If necessary, show understanding through rephrasing and asking questions.
  4. Demonstrate your love and appreciation for all family members. Never assume your family members know how much you love them: they need to see concrete evidence. Congratulate them on their accomplishments and use positive words to affirm them. Show them you care through words, a hug or touch, or other gestures. Let all your children know you love them equally: if you're constantly praising one child over another, they'll legitimately wonder if your love really is unconditional.
  5. Enjoy quality time together as a family. Spend meaningful time together, even if you have to cut down on other activities to reserve it. Go on vacation, sit down and enjoy a meal together, and celebrate traditions that will enrich your family life and build memories that will last a lifetime.