EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
KID
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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
Health: In Shape
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The 12 steps to a healthy family vary in each household. Some families are so entrenched in youth sports and adult fitness gyms that “exercise” is already built in. Others, well, the TV and computer need to be turned off. There are universal themes, though, to the physical and mental happiness of families. And while the list below may be a given for some, they need to be adopted by others. Follow these steps and then add what else is needed to fulfill your family’s particular shape. 1. Sleep: College football coaches are famous for getting by on 3-4 hours a sleep. What does that mean? Don’t use them as role models. Growing children, and this includes teens, need at least nine hours of sleep a night. Ten is better. Adults need at least seven. Turn out the lights before the party’s over. 2. Nutrition: Adopt a healthy diet. OC Family Magazine several times a year addresses this issue. If you don’t cook, learn to. And plan balanced meals three times a day. Start with breakfast not sugar-coated cereal or a fast-food burrito. It is the most important meal of the day. Whole-grain cereal, a banana or apple, and a glass of orange juice will start a busy day with a healthy bang. Oatmeal is best. 3. Exercise: Often, a family does a good enough job by enrolling their children in sports for several months of the year. And then the adults sit on the sideline, and sit, and sit. What about mom and dad? If you don’t like what you see today, imagine how you will look and feel when the children graduate from college. Start with a one-mile walk around the block. Push it up to two miles. Check with your doctor about physical options, and limitations, and go for it. 4. Breastfeeding: The topic is our year-long editorial initiative; we publish a story in this section each issue. For mothers preparing for baby, read up on the subject. For new moms, work with the hospital’s lactation specialist, if needed. 5. Vaccinations: Public schools require these. A lineup of what you need, and when, is available from your pediatrician. 6. Family time: There is nothing like having dinner together, when children can break down the day and you can encourage the conversation. Face time is as precious as Disneyland time, so plan for it. 7. Imagination: The child who is given the opportunity to play with his imagination in the back yard, who isn’t programmed for every waking moment, will, if nothing else, be thankful. Given them freedom to play, and replay, the seventh game of the World Series each and every day. Somehow, they always hit the winning home run, plastic bat in hand and whiffle ball in the ivy. 8. Reading: Nothing prepares a child for the future like this subject. Read to them at least 20 minutes a day; then, have them read to you. See the story in this package. 9. Sun protection: Hard to believe, but the skin is most damaged in the early years. Sunburns before the teen years can turn into cancer in the adult years. Protect them now, and protect them year-round, with at least a 30 SPF sunscreen. Noses, cheeks, ears, backs of necks are particularly important. 10. Dental and eye care: Teach the child to brush properly; they should be able to do this on their own by age 8. See a pediatric dentist twice a year. And have their eyes checked, either through school or a specialist. 11. Hygiene: The mantra should be, “wash hands, wash hands, wash hands.” 12. Religious time: Whether it is the formality of a house of worship, or the less formal routine of reading from a book of ethics, most families believe a religious component is the only way to complete their own circle of life. TIPS FOR READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN • Read to children from birth • Escort children to the library or store to choose a book • Alter stories by putting in your child’s name • Deliver story using plenty of expression and enthusiasm • All family members in the home should read to children every day • Look at picture books first, build to storybooks • Observe a bedtime ritual that includes reading; tape stories for a child’s naptime • Utilize as many senses as possible: when reading about flowers, smell a rose; when reading about blueberries, eat one, etc. • Deliver the story slowly to enable the child to build mental pictures of what is being heard • Design family read-alouds around the dinner table, on picnics, in the car • All children enjoy being read their favorite book over and over again • Involve the child ask questions about the story, have them anticipate events, etc. • Let the child choose a book; seat yourself so your child can see the pages • Yank out the TV plug read to a child instead! Children & Families Commission of Orange County |
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