Children's Health: Tips For Your Child's Healthy Summer

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Tips For Your Family's Healthy Summer

Daily Bread

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.
Ephesians 5:1

Parents and children can take steps to improve their lives

The end of the school year is a wonderful time to assess your routines and take steps to improve them. The same goes for the lives of your children, too.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has these tips for ensuring a healthy environment for your child this summer:

Prevent violence by setting good examples
Set limits for your children by letting them know what's expected, and noticing when they meet your expectations. Celebrate their successes with them. Try to avoid hitting, slapping or spanking. Your children may copy you and think that it is OK to hit other people.

Make sure immunizations are up to date
Review your child's immunization record with your pediatrician. Make sure your child is current on recommended immunizations.

Provide your child with a tobacco-free environment
Second-hand tobacco smoke increases ear infections, chest infections and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. If you smoke, consider quitting. Remember, your child loves you and will copy you. If you smoke, your children may grow up to be smokers, too. Make your home a smoke-free zone.

Read to your child every day
Start by the age of 6 months. Reading to children shows them the importance of communication and motivates them to become readers. It also provides a context to discuss issues and learn what is on your child's mind.

Practice "safety on wheels"
Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up for every ride, with children in the back seat in age-appropriate child safety seats. All bikers, skaters and skateboarders should wear helmets and other appropriate sports gear.

Do a "childproofing" survey of your home
A child's-eye view home survey should systematically go from room to room, removing all the "booby traps" that await the curious toddler or preschooler. Think of poisons, small objects, sharp edges, knives, firearms and places to fall.

Monitor your children's "media"
Monitor what your children see and hear on television, in movies and in music. Children are affected by what they see and hear, particularly in these times of violent images. If you feel that a movie or TV program is inappropriate, redirect them to more suitable programming.

Help kids understand tobacco, alcohol and the media
Help your teenager understand the difference between the misleading messages in advertising and the truth about the dangers of using alcohol and tobacco products. Talk about ads with your child. Help your child understand the real messages being conveyed. Help direct your child toward TV shows and movies that do not glamorize the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Pay attention to nutrition
Nutrition makes a big difference in how kids grow, develop and learn. Good nutrition is a matter of balance. Provide foods from several food groups at each meal. Emphasize foods that are less processed, such as whole grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Review your child's diet with your pediatrician for suggestions.

Commit to become more involved in your child's school and your child's education
Visit your child's school and find out how parents can help. Whether you become active in the parent-teacher organization or volunteer in the school, parent involvement matters. Your child will notice how important education is to you.

Make your children feel loved and important
Kids develop a sense of self-worth early in life. Listen to what your children have to say. Assure them that they are loved and safe. Celebrate their individuality and tell them what makes them special.

Published: May 11, 2006
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Writer: Elizabeth Todd Bartholomew, MA, APR

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