This post is the first of a 5-part series about getting your preschooler ready for Kindergarten. Be sure to check out Paula’s other top 10 tips for getting your preschooler off to a good start.

“Eat your veggies”, “Sneeze into your elbow”, “Wear your hat and sunglasses”, “Be careful”, “Wash your hands”, “Get off the couch and do something”, “If you don’t get to sleep, you won’t grow” –  as much as I hate to admit it, mom, grandma, Uncle Jim and step-dad were quite right! These pearls of wisdom, along with a secure base of unconditional love, acceptance and support gave us the stuff we needed right from the start.

We have a few more!  Try some of our TOP 10 tips for growing healthy kids:

1. Role model and encourage your kids to wash hands before eating, after using the washroom and when they become dirty or sticky.
2. Show and remind your kids to sneeze into their elbow or sleeve – this reduces the spread of infection.
3. Role model and teach your kids how to play safely in the sun!
4. Teach your kids their full name, address and phone number – turning it into a song makes it fun!
5. Practise holding and playing with a pencil, crayon, brush and a string of beads.
6. Role model the enjoyment of a good breakfast and healthy foods all day.  Fruits and vegetables can be cut into fun shapes and arranged on a plate to form faces, letters or anything you like!  Make healthy eating fun!
7. Encourage your kids to manage basic tasks including the washroom routine on his own – practise zippers, buttons and washing hands with every trip to the loo.
8. Check that growth and development is on track and seek help if you have questions or concerns.
9. Live an active, playful lifestyle and have fun together – celebrate efforts and try new things!
10. Just breathe.  Role model and teach your kids to take big, long breaths a few times a day to refresh their bodies and clear their minds.

Remember, you are not alone!  Be sure to check out our “Kindergarten: Ready, Set, GO!” pages for lots of handy info, checklists and workshops for parents.  If your child has not attended nursery school, preschool or child care, our EvenStart program is a fantastic way to prepare them for the daily routine and structure of kindergarten.

For more tips and hints about your preparing your child for kindergarten, or to share your experience, there are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• Leave us a comment below – we’d love your feedback
• Talk to us on Twitter: @haltonparents
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Call  HaltonParents by dialing 311 or 905-825-6000 for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

About this guest blogger:

Paula D’Orazio RN is a Public Health Nurse specializing in Preschool Health and Parenting with the Halton Region’s Early Years Health Program.  She is an accredited Triple P Positive Parenting Program individual counsellor and trained facilitator in both Nobody’s Perfect and Beyond the Basics. She is also co-author and facilitator of Halton’s Parenting Basics group curriculum.  A busy, working mom, Paula believes in living healthy and relishes her “live, love and laugh” time with her young family.