So, you know how to protect your skin but how about your child’s?
It doesn’t matter where you’re heading or how young or old you are. It is recommended that people of all ages apply sunscreen on a daily basis to protect against harmful sun rays. So before your child leaves for school or to go on a play date, don’t let them out of the house without sun screen!
Here are the best kid-friendly sunscreens:
Cooking with your kids is not just about having fun, entertaining them so they're not bored, or encouraging them to help out around the house. (Although it does all of these things!) Cooking with your children also teaches them the importance of eating foods that are healthy for their growing bodies and minds, and shows them that it's easy (not to mention fun!) to cook food rather than throw a pre-packaged meal in the microwave. Remember, teaching them these important lessons now sets them up to maintain a healthy lifestyle later in life!
It's already April, but that's not too late to make a 2011 resolution! Trade in your family's lazy habits for healthier ones by encouraging each member of your household to spend more time as a unit, rather than as individuals. Family members can feel neglected if everyone spends too much time doing their own thing--surfing the web, watching TV, playing video games, or other sedentary individual activities. Below are some ideas to implement with your family for a happier, healthier house!
Beyond just sitting down at the table for dinner, it’s important to carve out time in your busy week to do something fun together as a family. You don’t have to do anything expensive or time-consuming, but can use the materials you already have in your home to plan some entertaining activities.
If your family is like most, your days are filled with chaos. Everyone is constantly running around in opposite directions for school, work, errands, extra-curricular activities, you name it. You may live in the same house, but oftentimes it’s almost impossible to get everyone in the same place to just spend some time together. The solution? Sitting down to eat dinner together at least a few times a week. Everyone has to eat and evening time is usually the best chance to get everyone to slow down and reconnect after long days before heading off to sleep.
Living in the generation that we do, it's common for kids to just run in and glue their eyes to the TV, computer, or latest video game. A study shows that kids today spend 55 hours a week indoors using just electronics and spend hardly any time at all outdoors. Spending more time outdoors can help inspire kids imaginations and give them the opportunity to interact with nature as opposed to electronics. Not to mention, it has that physical activity component that is fundamental for healthy living!
‘Creative Practicing’ improves technique but also builds your child’s motivation and self-esteem!
Over the years, I have counseled many parents to limit their child's TV-watching to one hour a day of PBS only and to keep the television turned off at other times. To this well intentioned advice, I am often met with looks of incredulity and even protests.
Preventative medicine is the backbone of pediatrics. For starters, we vaccinate children to prevent serious illnesses. Pediatricians are constantly counseling patients and their families on the health benefits of exercise and good nutrition and how these habits will lead to a healthier life. And, sometimes medications to prevent recurrent illness are necessary.
