The Camp Darby Commissary hosted a Family Fitness Day to encourage healthy eating and exercise.

I know it’s common sense, even cliché, that you should model good behavior for your kids. But it’s also good advice that bears repeating, because you’re human and the person it’s easiest to put last is …yourself.

Think about it: Your kids are always watching you, especially when you think they’re not looking. If you set a good example by being kind to yourself in ways that nourish your body and soul instead of breaking them down, you become a solid block in the foundation of your child’s healthy future.

Here are a few other ways you can encourage your kids to grow naturally into a health, fit life:

Explore New Activities

Expose your kids to as many new ways of staying active as you can, whether that means going to local karate tournaments, watching the Olympics on television, or taking them to a climbing gym. Watch for a spark of interest, and let your kids choose whether or not to pursue a new activity. Remember: Even if you think something is perfect for them (and you’re probably right), the timing has to be right, too. As long as you listen, your kids will tell you what and when is right for them. If you can find an active hobby that they’ll stick with for its own sake, you’ve hit lifetime legacy gold.

Build a Legacy Together

It’s hard to lose when you’re active as a family, and swimming, biking or taking dance and martial arts classes with your kids are all great ways to set a good example. Remember, fitness isn’t just a sometimes thing; if you want to teach your kids to live healthy, it has to become a way of life. But that doesn’t mean you should all become gym rats. Instead, go for a picnic and play Frisbee, or take long hikes together. Even if your child’s into something that’s not your bag, show up to cheer him on. Trust me, it matters.

Expand Your Definition of Health

Don’t underestimate the effect of good self-esteem on your child’s future health. The broader her experiences, the more you let her explore her own intrinsic preferences, the healthier and better-adjusted she’s likely to be.

Learning to play the piano, sing, model, or joining the debate team might not seem like part of the recipe for physical health, but anything you can do to help your child become self-confident, to help her discover what it is she wants in life and how to get it, will help her dodge the sneaky little traps that so often trick us into not taking care of ourselves.