By the time they reach school age, a child is as skilled at debating as politicians on the campaign trail. But while their persistence can wear you down, giving in to their pleas will only encourage them to keep it up. “If you’re looking [to raise a] respectful child with good self-esteem, then start saying no,” says Michelle Borba, educational psychologist and author of The Big Book of Parenting...
Fun vacations and special occasions make great family memories, but they’re not what create a sense of closeness between parents and kids. Tight bonds come from being involved and interested in your kid’s daily life – from schoolwork, to hobbies, to friends and more. Why is it important to get closer to your kids? A 2010 Binghamton University study found that it greatly boosts child mental...
When kids come home from school hungry, they reach for the quickest fix possible – often a box of cookies or a bag of chips. Healthy? Hardly. But it’s not just their lack of vitamins and minerals that make these foods less-than-ideal snack choices. It’s their lack of protein. Kids need a combination of carbohydrates and proteins in their snacks to keep their energy up and their hunger at...
It’s no secret that obesity has become a major health problem in the U.S. — for both adults and kids. Roughly one in five children between the ages of 6 and 11 is obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and many more are overweight. So what’s to blame? Lack of exercise and poor food choices are prime suspects. But so is portion control — which for many families has spiraled...
Research has long shown that lack of sleep can lead to long-term health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. But here’s a new finding to add to the heap: Kids who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk for obesity, according to a 2011 study by the University of Chicago and the University of Louisville. Sleep loss has damaging short-term consequences too: impaired memory, trouble focusing,...
Getting your family to adopt a healthier lifestyle is hard – and setting big goals makes it nearly impossible. Instead, work on making small changes that stick. Here are some easy ways to make healthy living part of your family’s routine: 1. Get colorful Who’s got time to calculate the calories, carbs and bad fats you bring home from the supermarket every week. Instead of focusing on numbers,...
