Yes, You Can Raise Your Child to Live to 100 — and Here’s How

When you welcome a baby into the world, the last thing on your mind is what they’ll be like when they’re 80. How we raise them from the start, however, plays a role in dictating their future quality of life, as well as how long that life lasts.

Back in 2004, journalist and explorer Dan Buettner discovered several regions of the world in which an extraordinary percentage of the population lived until the age of 100. He dubbed these regions “blue zones” and set out to uncover what each of these regions had in common. While transforming your own city into a blue zone is a daunting undertaking, you can easily apply the themes of his research to your own family.

There’s no need to reinvent the secret to longevity. Apply these 12 life lessons from centenarians across the globe, and you’ll be well on your way to giving your kids the best shot at hitting the triple digit mark. 

One of the most common habits shared by inhabitants of blue zones is the practice of completing tasks by hand. In this day and age, especially in Western countries, automation is pretty automatic. We use electric toothbrushes, have our groceries delivered by Instacart and order dinner via Doordash. Even our attempts to move more are somewhat eclipsed by automation. Why do kids need electric scooters instead of using their own two legs? 

In the blue zones, most people perform everyday tasks by hand instead of relying on convenient services and electronics to simplify them. Doing things by hand is more time consuming, but it helps longevity in a few ways. Firstly, it keeps you moving both mentally and physically. The simple act of walking through the grocery store and picking out items by hand is a more social, interactive experience than having bags dropped off on your doorstep. Secondly, it helps you to live in the present. 

It should come as no surprise that exercise helps longevity, but the type of exercise is worth noting. Most centenarians in blue zones weren’t avid gym enthusiasts. They weren’t triathletes or marathon runners either. They just move a lot in their everyday life. Typically, blue zones are walkable areas where residents walk or bike to work, school and the store instead of driving.

In addition to cooking, cleaning and doing other tasks by hand, reducing driving time as much as you can is an excellent habit to pass on to your kids. Living in a safe, walkable neighborhood is a privilege many of us don’t have, so just do your best. If you can swing it, consider getting an electric cargo bike to pick up groceries or take the kids to school. Whatever helps you use your car less is fair game. 

Farming and backyard gardening are commonplace in blue zones. If you don’t have much space, don’t worry about it! You can still grow herbs and fresh produce in pots if you have good lighting or with the help of artificial lighting.

An even better option is to participate in a community garden. Some cities allow residents to plant crops in community gardens for free, while others require renting a plot. It’s usually affordable, fortunately. Gardening gives families a chance to get outside, learn about sustainable food production,  find new appreciation for the food they eat and spend time together all at once. 

Healthy relaxation is the key word here. Whether they live in Okinawa, Japan or Loma Linda, California, centenarians in blue zones don’t relax by doom scrolling on Instagram or binge-watching a new Netflix series. As you’ve probably noticed, those activities rarely leave us feeling refreshed and calm. In blue zones, people engage in activities that are genuinely restorative and beneficial, not just mindlessly dissociative. 

Activities could include taking walks together, spending time at the park, hanging out in the yard and enjoying an afternoon siesta in a hammock. You could also share a cup of tea with a friend, journal or read a good book. Any calming activity will do, as long as you experience it mindfully. With kids, playing board games, drawing and playing outside together are easy, crowd-pleasing options.