Kids

It is important to talk to your child about healthy habits and be a role model for healthy behavior. Here are a few steps to take to get started.

Eat family meals together to increase fruit and vegetable intake: In one study, it was found that children who had a family meal 4-6 days/week or 0-3 days/week were less likely to consume fruit daily compared to children who had a family meal 7 days/week.¹
Limit sugary drinks: Sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet and are very harmful to children’s health. Sugary drinks include soda, fruit drinks, and sports drinks.²
Children should be getting 60 minutes of play time a day: This can look a number of ways and can be spread throughout the day.
Limit non-educational screen time to less than 1 hour per day: For children aged 2 to 12, an acceptable amount of screen time is 1 hour per day. For teens and adults, an acceptable amount of screen time is two hours per day.³Excessive screen time takes away from time that could be spent being active.
Limit secondhand smoke exposure as much as possible: There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke exposure. To protect your kids, do not smoke or let anyone smoke in your home or car.⁴
Talk to your child about harmful substances, such as junk food and tobacco: Begin the conversation early at around 5 to 6 years of age, especially if they’re asking about smoking. Discuss some of the side effects of smoking.⁵

Updated October 28, 2025

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