What are the challenges in avoiding environmental toxins and additives as children get older?

Today am going to tackle a question from Renee.

What are the challenges in avoiding environmental toxins and additives as children get older? Does it become easier as they become more able to self monitor and make critical decisions about use of products or consumables?

That's a good question Renee.
For us personally because Caleb was so defiant (as some others are I'm sure) it was a challenge to get him to conform initially , especially to taking some of the supplements. When he was younger and we started getting some herbal formulas that really were hard to take we tried to force them into him even by holding him down (not a good move).

When we found the products we are using now (and have been for 11 plus years) they were thankfully more palatable but I used little tricks like telling Caleb he would beat his Dad in an arm wrestle if he had his minerals. I actually used a bit of reverse psychology and asked him not to take too much or Dad would get upset, being competitive this worked a treat. As he got older 6-12 ish he willingly took them as he knew they made him feel better, some how kids sense this and read their bodies better than we do. Same went for foods and products we used around the house. Caleb just knew he felt better when we worked towards maintaining a healthy home.
I think at a young age if they understand WHY they need to supplement and WHY they need to eat healthier than other kids then they will be more cooperative.

I do remember Caleb throughout late primary and early secondary school NOT wanting to be different especially if he had to go on a school camp or school excursion.
I decided it was easier and more successful to allow him to make the best choices possible rather than have him embarrassed. On the whole he did well and made better choices because he didn't like the reaction he got if he did get too off track.

There were few times when it back fired but they weren't necessarily Caleb's fault like when he had a hot dog (full of colours and preservatives and nitrates) on white bread, white flour, sugar and preservative 282-- all a lethal combination.(Not a good outcome) but he was then actually old enough to understand what had happened and avoided them next time.

I feel you just have to work with the child and have them understand that certain foods and personal products are not good for their body and let therm experience the difference. Sometimes its worth letting them have or do something reactive at home to let them see the consequences. Over the years Caleb has eaten something he shouldn't have then said "Why did I do that?"

I have personally refused to buy toxic personal products in his teenage years that I knew were harmful but he has still managed to get hold of them somehow. Now that he is a young adult we do compromise. But funnily enough he keeps coming back to our non toxic products because the others give him dandruff and bad skin. He started a new skin care product from our range recently and raves about how good his skin looks and feels so I really believe given enough education they will work it out for themselves.

So in summary Renee in some ways it becomes easier and other ways not so. Give your children the information they need to make better choices.. gain their cooperation rather that trying to control them. Help them to believe in their own decision making and I'm sure that on the whole they will make the best choices (or at least learn from the mistakes they make)

Happy parenting,
Cheers,
Lillian