Outdoor play activities 'a better reward than sweets'
24/12/2010 An expert in oral health has advised parents to seek new ways to reward their well-behaved children, with outdoor play activities and trampolines potentially more suitable than traditional sweet treats.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), was discussing the difficulties in preventing tooth decay in children, urging mums and dads to choose healthier ways of reinforcing good behaviour.
"Children do not naturally have a sweet tooth and very often only develop this when they are offered sweets as rewards by parents and grandparents," he explained.
Families were urged to consider alternatives, which could include treating kids to the fun of using trampolines for the garden, allowing children to feel the benefits of outdoor play.
Earlier this week, life coach and hypnotherapist Rebekah Fensome advised households keen to improve their lifestyle to start exercising outdoors sooner rather than later.
She explained that people often view New Year as the best time to make the change, but added that it "doesn't matter" what time of year families take up outdoor play activities, as long as they do it.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), was discussing the difficulties in preventing tooth decay in children, urging mums and dads to choose healthier ways of reinforcing good behaviour.
"Children do not naturally have a sweet tooth and very often only develop this when they are offered sweets as rewards by parents and grandparents," he explained.
Families were urged to consider alternatives, which could include treating kids to the fun of using trampolines for the garden, allowing children to feel the benefits of outdoor play.
Earlier this week, life coach and hypnotherapist Rebekah Fensome advised households keen to improve their lifestyle to start exercising outdoors sooner rather than later.
She explained that people often view New Year as the best time to make the change, but added that it "doesn't matter" what time of year families take up outdoor play activities, as long as they do it.
