Sweeten Their Future, Not Their Drinks
When considering a healthy diet for children, we often think about the food they eat, but we also need to think about the beverages they drink. While we may focus on food when planning a healthy diet, understanding that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), such as sodas and fruit juices, can significantly impact a child’s health and …
Mental Health: Important for Parents and Children
In 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health established the first World Mental Health Day, which continues today and is held annually on October 10th (WMHD, 2024). On this day, various organizations, governments, and individuals work together to increase awareness of the mental health challenges people around the globe face each day and to create …
Play it Forward: Nurturing Growth through Free Play
In our fast-paced world, families often juggle schedules that are filled with completing schoolwork, participating in extracurricular activities, and managing screen time. While these activities can be beneficial for children to participate in, taking part in them may leave little time for children to engage in free play which is unstructured, child-led moments that can …
From Pollution to Solution: Embracing a Plastic-Free Life
Parents, caregivers, and adults will shape the habits and values of the next generation. Recycling materials, reducing our reliance on certain materials, and modeling this behavior for youth can positively benefit our health, our children’s future, and our environment. Decreasing our dependence on single-use plastics can be one way to contribute to this effort. While …
Creating a Family Blog
One way for family members to connect is to write a blog together. Discussing and writing about important events and meaningful moments, in a blog, can help a family stay connected with each other, friends, and extended family members. Creating a blog with your child can also provide opportunities for your child to be creative …
Fireworks Safety
Fireworks entertain millions of people and add sparkle to events throughout the year. They are often enjoyed at sporting events, weddings, and concerts. Yet, traditionally, fireworks are most often used in the United States to celebrate the Fourth of July. Large fireworks displays occur in communities across the country, and some families ignite fireworks in …
Desensitization to Violence: A Parent’s Role
In today’s digital age, the question of whether children, adolescents, and young adults are becoming desensitized to violence, hatred, and intolerance may be rhetorical. Exposure to violent and negative content on various media platforms can have a profound impact on how people (especially, possibly, children) perceive and react to real-world violence. Let’s discuss desensitization, its …
Parental Involvement in Youth Sports and Activities
Engaging in sports and extracurricular activities offers opportunities for your child(ren) to have fun, learn healthy habits, build developmental skills, and develop social ties with adults and peers in your community. From an early age, you may want your child(ren) to participate in various leagues, teams, and/or clubs as you seek to determine their interests. …
