A doctor has revealed the things that he will not let his own children do and some are certainly worth taking note of.
As parents, it is our job to protect our children as best we can, having to use our own judgment a lot of the time to decide what we should and shouldn’t let them do. We do the best with the information we have at the time, sometimes making mistakes here and there.
But often our jobs will dictate what we let our children do, with certain professions making parents more aware of certain risks or dangers when it comes to parenting.
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Taking to Instagram, NHS doctor Dr Arshad Rizvi has shared five things that he wouldn’t let his children do, and some of them may surprise you.
Five things this doctor won’t let his kids do
1. Drink sugary drinks daily
The first thing that the GP says he will not let his children do is drink sugary drinks daily – this could be juice or fizzy drinks. He says that consuming these drinks regularly is linked to childhood obesity, dental decay, insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
They should be treated as ‘occasional, not everyday drinks’.
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2. Skip sleep for screens
Letting your child stay up to watch TV or a movie may be fine as a one-off, but it shouldn’t become a habit, according to Dr Rizvi.
Explaining why, he said that ‘chronic sleep deprivation in children is associated with the following negative effects:
- poor concentration
- mood problems
- reduced immunity
- weight gain
‘Sleep is one of the most powerful health tools we have,’ he added.
3. Spend the whole day inside
It may not be feasible to be outside every day, especially in bad weather but the doctor is urging parents to get their kids outside for even 30-60 minutes per day.
He says that too much time inside can contribute to:
- low vitamin D
- poorer mental health
- reduced physical fitness
- worsening myopia (short-sightedness)
4. Constant snacking
So many kids are snack fiends, especially during the school holidays, but it is so important to have dedicated snack times instead of just letting kids graze all day long.
Dr Rizvi says that too much snacking can:
- increase dental decay risk
- disrupt hunger signals
- contribute to excess calorie intake
5. Ignore mental health conversations
The GP says that he wouldn’t let his children bottle up their emotions, feel unable to speak about their feelings or think that stress is a weakness. He said that it is so important for children to be aware of their emotions and feelings early, as it helps reduce:
- anxiety
- depression
- behavioural issues later on
