Patience and persistence are the tools for parents of a picky eater. Your tenacity to
make nutrition a priority will pay off in the long run as your child grows and
begins to form food associations, preferences and priorities. Your guidance
and role modeling will be a positive and formidable influence. (but you can’t see it rightnow, so hang in there and don’t give up.)
* Don’t despair. That leads to frustration and stress at meal times. That doesn’t help you or the child. Be patient there is no magic solutions because kids, like us adults, have different personalities, tolerance levels, patience, moods etc. So in other words, what works for one child may not work for another.
*Introduce one new food at a time. Introduce it with another food they enjoy.
* Don’t make your child clean their plate. Forget that old fashioned way of thinking. We now
know that kids, especially under five, have a good sense of their hunger. They will stop eating when they are full. The portion size they were given may be too much for them.
* Avoid bribing please! ie “If you eat your vegetables, you can have dessert later.” Think about the message that will send to your child. Dessert- reward, fun, happy, success.
Vegetables, not fun, requires a condition in order to eat them, Multiple studies have shown that bribing kids doesn’t promote good healthy food preferences in the long run.
* Just try to offer them one bite of the healthy food they don’t want to eat. If your child refuses, don’t give up or get mad. It just means they won’t try it today but that does not mean
forever. Keep bringing that vegetable back to mealtime every several days or so.
* Take advantage of other activities to expose your child to healthy foods outside of mealtime. Have them help you pick out the vegetables and fruits at the grocery store, or better yet, at the farmers market, Maybe the farmer will tell your child how they grew it. Let them help prepare the foods. I know I have said this before, but it can take kids 15 exposures before their
curiosity is piqued enough to try a new food.
* Be a fun healthy eating role model. The kids are watching you and paying attention. Pile on those veggies on your plate
and let them know how delicious it is. A little extra acting is
okay. You have an audience! It’s okay for kids to have a dessert or high sugar, high fat food once in awhile. Avoid completely eliminating a food they enjoy. It will only make them want it more. Instead, teach your child how these foods are good to have once in a while. Help them learn to eat small portions of these kinds of foods. We have to be realistic. Being healthy is about moderation, balance and portion sizes. There is room in a child’s diet for all kinds of foods. Some every
day and other once in while. When there are independent tweens/teens they will be making their own food choices. Home is a chance to teach children good eating habits and that includes teaching them about these high sugar foods and high fat foods.
* Avoid letting your child snack all day long. If they aren’t very hungry at mealtime they are
less likely to try new foods.
* Make the foods interesting. Jazz up those vegetables and fruits. Kids love dipping foods, so how about adding a low fat dip for their vegetables or fruits. Serve them their vegetable with a vegetable made of into a picture or funny face. Just image theirfaces when they sit down and see a happy smile made of celery, carrots and cucumbers. Make fruits and vegetables a fun event for kids. Have them color their plate with the food item. See if they can name the different colors. You can come up with different games using fruits and vegetables that can peak their interest about the food.
* If you find a couple of vegetables that they do like, well, it is okay to repeatedly serve
them. Just continue to introduce one new food at a time.
* To add more nutrition for that stubborn picky eater who absolutely refuses to eat vegetables or fruits, be creative. You can add vegetables into some of their favorite meals. Dice them finely and add these
healthy foods to their favorite meatloaf, stew, soup, casserole dish or
pasta.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Picky Eaters Tips
Health Tips for Kids
Parents today, need to think about keeping their kids healthy the natural way to combat various health problems. Here are some health tips for kids, which parents need to use to keep the child in good health.
Healthy habits are always instilled in a child during the childhood days. Teaching children the importance of a healthy diet is one of the first things parents always strive to explain to their children. A healthy habit when infused in a child from the early years, only helps in the overall child development and turns him/her into a responsible individual. Children need to be taught about the importance of healthy habits in a gentle manner. With time and care from your side, children are bound to understand the importance of healthy habits. Here is a basic compilation of tips related to kids' health. With these health tips, kids can learn to look after themselves during their growing years.
Health tips for kids
Teach your child the importance of a healthy routine. The day should always begin with a healthy breakfast. Help the child to understand why breakfast times are important for the day. You can make a chart of different recipes for breakfast and tell him/her gently about the importance of many vital ingredients for one’s body.
Fruits and green vegetables are so important for a healthy diet. Your child should know why fruits score over packaged foods. You need to include fresh fruits during breakfast times or slip one in the lunchbox. Make it interesting by having fresh fruit juices or even fruit salads to break the monotony.
Children are not aware about many things that are very important for their growth. As parents, you must ensure your child has plenty of water and fluids during the day. Fluids should include fresh juices. Make sure your child carries a bottle of fresh juices to school.
Kids should know the importance of exercise at an early age itself. Teach kids few basic exercises that can be done at home. An exercise routine that incorporates walking or swimming can help children to manage these activities on a daily basis. As they grow up, these routines will naturally form a part of their life.
Kids should also be aware of hygiene-related issues. Youngsters should learn things such as the need to wash hands before and after meals. For young kids, you can simply use a singsong routine to get them into the process. Children will then surely make this a part of their routine once they understand the importance of personal hygiene.
Dental care should begin at an early age. Brushing teeth twice daily is needed to keep teeth looking healthy and clean. You can promise to read a bedtime story for a kid that does not really enjoy a brushing routine. Make it seem enjoyable rather than making the child feel punished.
As your child grows older, you can help your kid maintain a chart on foods to be avoided on a regular basis. It’s important the child knows that indulgence in foods high in sugar is fine once in a while. It should not be done on an everyday basis. Avoid being too stern if your kid wants to enjoy foods such as French fries and ice cream. Simply teach your child how to be smart and consume such foods only occasionally.
Your child may require a daily dose of vitamins if the diet does not include the required amount. Make sure you check with your doctor about the vitamin intake to give the right amount of doses. There are many vitamin tablets packed in attractive containers. Generally, kids believe they eat candy instead of medicines due to the innovatively packed products that are available these days. There can also be alternative ways to include food items in the diet, which are a rich source of vitamins. Your doctor would be the best judge to decide upon the diet plan.
Parents also need to make sure their children get the appropriate amount of sleep. The child needs a healthy balance of activities and play. Sometimes, children take a long time to fall asleep. You can read a bedtime story or simply speak to the child softly. This will help the child to fall asleep naturally. This health tip will help children to stay in good health and remain active during the day.
Children need plenty of love and care right from their early years. Along with loads of love, these health tips will help to keep your kid fit and smiling throughout the day!
Health Tips for Kids 9 to 15 Years Old
Start your day with breakfast.
Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain waffles or even last night's pizza! See also: Breakfast on the Fly
Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.
Snack Smart
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups -- a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are okay for occasional snacking.
Work up a Sweat
Vigorous work-outs -- when you're breathing hard and sweating -- help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel your best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.
Don't Eat Too Much of One Thing
You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthfully. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you to get all these nutrients.
Get Fit With Friends and Family
Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week.
Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. (See: Easy Ways to Eat More Fruit). Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or in a salad.
Join in physical activities at school.
Whether you take a physical education class or do other physical activities at school, such as intramural sports, structured activities are a sure way to feel good, look good and stay physically fit.
Foods aren't good or bad.
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat, sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choices is important. Fit in a higher-fat food, like pepperoni pizza, at dinner by choosing lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If two pieces of pizza fill you up, don't eat a third.
Make Healthy Eating and Physical Activities Fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous -- try new sports, games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, play longer, and look and feel better! Set realistic goals -- don't try changing too much at once.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Can your child manage money?
By Maggie Galehouse
Houston Chronicle
Nobody likes a spoiled brat.
And the air of entitlement wafting around that type of kid - which only grows thicker as the child grows older - often is linked directly to money. Teaching children how to respect and manage money begins with an allowance.
One rule of thumb is to give one dollar for each year of age.
"But I wouldn't start at $5 for a 5-year-old," says Janet Stern Solomon, financial expert and human resources professor.
It's too much.
Solomon wrote "Bratproofing Your Children: How to Raise Socially and Financially Responsible Kids" with her husband, Lewis, in 2007. Since then, a national financial slump has rendered money management an essential skill for people of any age.
For children, an allowance should be a fixed amount at regular intervals; the amount and frequency depend on the age and maturity of the child, Solomon says. Younger kids should get a small amount each week; teens might get a larger sum once a month.
An allowance should not be linked to household chores.
Cleaning your room or picking up after yourself is simply pulling your weight in the household. You don't get extra credit - or money - for that, Solomon says.
The same goes for grades. Studying and doing homework are baseline expectations. Parents shouldn't pay kids for good grades.
That said, a parent might reward a child for a special academic honor or pay for a special chore, such as cleaning the garage or weeding the garden, Solomon says.
Saving is a big piece of the financial lesson.
"You might give a younger child $5 in singles each week, so they can set a few dollars aside," Solomon says.
Discussing family finances with children when they reach the age of 10 or 11 is another opportunity to make a powerful point.
Solomon suggests starting with a big pile of Monopoly money that totals the amount Mom and Dad bring in each month. Tell the children how much each bill costs - the gas bill, electric bill, cable bill, insurance, mortgage and so on - and have them pull those amounts out of the big pile.
"It's very dramatic," Solomon says. "When you start, there's a large pile of money. But by the time you're finished with the necessities, the pile is a lot smaller. It's a real example that there is only so much to go around."
When you get right down to it, money management doesn't require real cash at all.
In her book, "The No-Cash Allowance," author and blogger Lynne Finch outlines the system she and her husband designed for their own children. There's no cash involved because kids see cash as something they need to spend immediately, Finch says.
Under Finch's system, the child controls a virtual pool of money and keeps an account on paper or online. The money and responsibilities increase as the child gets older.
"I wanted my kids to have an allowance," Finch explains, "but I didn't want them to think it was for whatever they wanted."
Beyond a flat allowance or "weekly credit," the virtual account contains money for stuff kids need and want, such as school supplies, birthday presents, clothes and electronics.
Let's say the child has $70 in the virtual account. Of that, $50 has been allotted for school expenses, leaving $20 for a birthday present to bring to an upcoming party.
But once at the store, the child selects a $25 birthday gift. Should the child spend $5 less on school supplies and purchase the desired gift? Find a less expensive gift? Spend $50 on school supplies and wait until the following week to buy the birthday gift, when an additional $5 in "weekly credit" will be added to the virtual account?
These are the painful decisions of effective money management, Finch says, and this is what children need to sort through.
In a world that runs on debits and credits, they need to watch the money coming in - and going out.
"It's money parents would be spending anyway," Finch says. "So all parents are doing is transferring control and responsibility to children in a safe environment."
Giving up that control can be tough for moms and dads, she adds.
It's hard to watch your child purchase a flimsy toy or poorly made clothing. But dealing with the aftermath of a bad purchase is part of a financial education.
It's OK to consult with your children if they ask for advice on a purchase, Finch says. And it's important to sympathize with them after a bad purchase. But let them control their own small financial destiny.
"If they don't make mistakes now, they're going to make mistakes later," Finch says. "When they learn to drive a car, eventually you have to give them the keys."
how much is too much?
The allowance It's a fixed amount of money given to children at regular intervals. The amount and frequency depend on the age and maturity of the child. It shouldn't be tied to chores or decent grades; these are basic expectations for children.
The timing Kids are never too young. Even a 3-year-old understands that if a coloring book costs $4 and he has only $3 to spend, he's out of luck.
The amount That depends on the child. Come up with an allowance based on what your child wants to buy. If your 7-year-old likes Pokemon cards and a big pack costs $10, a $7 weekly allowance would get him two packs every three weeks. Does that sound reasonable?
Copyright 2010
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Help your kids overcome 'I want it now' mentality
You're in the thick of the holiday shopping season and your youngster has a serious case of the gotta-have-it-now syndrome.
Talk about going in 60 million directions, without a worry about costs. One day it's an obsession for a laptop computer. Then he's all excited about the hot video game system. Two days later, he yearns for Guitar Hero III.
Good grief. About the only thing not on your son's shopping list is a little something called delayed gratification.
Most children - and parents, too - are hard-wired to want cool, fun stuff. It's normal. But, says Kansas City, Mo., financial author Sheelagh Manheim, "your job is to overcome that desire with economic reality."
That said, how can you set reasonable limits with your youngster on what's affordable within the family budget and also tone down the consumption drive that hits especially hard this time of year?
Here are a few tips to help your children overcome the "right now" mentality and become better consumers.
Get a job: The best way to slow down a child's consumption is to help them set goals and discuss how they plan to earn the money, said Susan Beacham, co-founder of The Money Savvy Generation. "At least it gets them to stop, think and reflect before the purchase," she said.
For example, Beacham said, if your son wants to upgrade his electronic game system, "post the goal and the plan and then leave it up to him to fulfill. If they earn the upgrade, it at least came as a result of reflection and true desire, not the satisfaction of an impulse."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
10 TIPS For Talking with Kids about the News
1. Explore the age appropriateness of the news you allow your children to see.
Whether and how kids should consume the news really depends on the child and how that news is presented. As parents, we all sense that kids today are growing up too fast. The simple truth is that they have access to much more information than previous generations. To help you decide what's right for your child, Talking with Kids describes three different age groups and possible effects of their exposure to news. Keep in mind these generalizations may not be true for all children.
Preschool age (under age six) kids have a limited ability to discern the fantasy of an entertainment show from the reality of news. In most cases they don't really see a difference between a car wreck on TV news and a car wreck in the movies. At the same time, kids in this age range are as likely to be afraid of what they see on the news as they are of dragons, or other fictional worries. Most experts do warn, however, that prolonged exposure to news and other media can lead to the "desensitization" kids. That is, commonplace crime and violence seen in the news and other media can work to reduce the emotional response of even the most shocking images among viewers. Parents should use caution when allowing preschool children to be exposed to all types of media. Talking with Kids strongly cautions against allowing your preschooler to watch the news without your supervision.
Psychologically, kids between the ages of six and ten are most vulnerable to what they see on the news. They know the difference between fantasy and reality, but they lack perspective. Instead of worrying about monsters under the bed, they tend to worry about real dangers like kidnapping, car wrecks and tornadoes. During this time, it is most important to watch the news and other media with your child. If you find these things especially disturb him, consider turning the news off.
Remember that children will not understand the frequency with which events occur. If they hear about break-ins, injury, and murder in their area (even if the area is a large one that contains millions of people), the fact that the event was important enough to be covered will lead them to believe that these are very common events. Help children develop a realistic sense of danger and limit their exposure to gruesome reviews of crime and injury.
Adolescents (age 11 and up) have grown to be much more media savvy. They have a better understanding of fact and fiction and are expanding their own perspective on a daily basis. But their constant exposure to media and peers can lead to conflicting information and confusion. As the parent of an adolescent, you can't be there to monitor everything your child is exposed to, but it is extremely important to check in with her about the media and other issues she is beginning to experience.
2. Watch or read the news with your kids.
A great way to alleviate the fear and confusion of the news is to share the experience with your child. By reading the newspaper together in the morning or watching a nightly news broadcast with your child, you will be able to know exactly what they are being exposed to and can talk with them about it. If you see something that may be upsetting to your child, don't be afraid to strike up a conversation on the subject. For younger children, you may also consider setting rules against watching the news when you aren't around.
3. Create an open dialogue.
The best way to make sure kids know they are safe, is to talk with them about what they see and hear. If your child is worried about the country going to war, talk with him about the chances of that happening and what it would mean for his safety. Additionally, let your children know not to be ashamed or afraid to talk with you whenever they see something they don't understand.
Use the news as an opportunity to discuss tough issues with your kids. We know it is important to talk with our kids about tough issues, but there isn't always enough time in the day to sit down for a long talk. Also, kids tend to resist formal discussions, often thinking they are in for another lecture from mom or dad. But if we use "talk opportunities," moments that arise in everyday life, our kids are less likely to tune us out. For instance, a newspaper item about a child expelled from school for a carrying a gun to class can help you start a discussion on guns and violence.
4. Share your feelings about the news you see.
As a parent, you have the opportunity to be the first person to instill in your child your sense of values and moral principles. The "just-the-facts" explanations of a news report may leave a child confused about right and wrong. Remember, research shows that children want and need moral guidance from their parents. Try starting off a conversation with something like "That news report about gun violence bothers me, because I don't believe guns should be kept were kids can reach them."
5. Let your kids know the difference between news and reality.
Is the news real? If you mean did the reported story actually happen somewhere in the world, yes the news is completely real. But the news media can lead people to believe that the stories reported are closer to home, or that they happen more often than they do in real life. Violence in schools is an example of a prevalent story in the news. So prominent in fact, that adults and kids alike are afraid that violence is sure to happen in their schools. The reality, however, reveals that there is less than a one in two million chance that a child will be injured during a violent outbreak at school. Make sure your kids know that just because they saw it on the news, it doesn't mean it is likely to happen to them.
6. Acknowledge your child's fears.
Even though many of the stories reported in the news may not really happen to you or your child, the fear these stories can bring out is very real. That's why it is important to reassure a child that there are people working to make sure her personal world will remain safe. Try saying something like this to your six to ten-year-old: "I know you feel a little scared by what you saw on the news, but you'll be fine. I am here to protect and take care of you." An older child might be comforted by a few additional details: "Dad and I aren't the only ones watching over you. Adults in the community like neighbors, the police and teachers are all looking out for your safety."
7. Explore the facts with your child.
At times it may be necessary to provide your child with more factual information than is provided in a news report. For example, a news report on the increasing number of people with HIV/AIDS may mean additional facts are needed to properly explain the disease to your child. Research the facts with your child about how the disease is transmitted and what can be done to prevent it. Make sure you look at safety and prevention measures when researching topics.
8. Acknowledge the complexity of the news.
Even the most informed parent is sure to have difficulties explaining why people fight wars, or why politicians don't always tell the truth. Even when we can explain them, our children might not understand. It's important that as parents we let our kids know that the news and the world are very complex, and that greater perspective will come with age and continued communication.
9. Select kid-friendly news sources for your child.
All news is not created equal. Take care to select good news sources for your kids. Generally speaking, TV news, especially local news shows, tend to focus on issues like crime and violence. Newspapers are often seen as a better source to get more in-depth news coverage with background and context. Network news usually focuses less on crime and violence than local news. However, there are local news stations committed to presenting "family friendly" newscasts with more responsible reporting. Look for these stations in your area. Also keep in mind that there are news sources created just for kids. Nick News on the children's network Nickelodeon is an example of a program designed to report on issues that kids care about in a way they can understand. There are also many Web sites and magazines dedicated to news for kids. For adolescents, consider subscribing to magazines that focus on news and issues important to your child. View our list of resources below.
10. Balance your child's news diet.
Few parents would allow a child to fill up on an all-chocolate food diet. Thinking about your child's exposure to the news in the same terms can be helpful. It's important to make sure kids have a balanced news diet. The best way to achieve this is to know your child's news environment, that is when, where and what kind of news your child is exposed to. Is your daughter listening to news radio while you drive her to school in the morning, or is she watching crime scene footage on TV news shows that follow her favorite afternoon cartoon?
Whatever the case, balance your child's news diet by setting clear limits. Make it known to your son that he can only watch the news when you are in the room to watch with him, or limit him to only news sources that are less violence-oriented, like network newscasts. Experience the news with your child, and balance his news diet by talking with him about what he sees.
The same way a nutritious diet, rich with plenty of fruits and vegetables, helps promote healthy growth for kids' bodies, a balanced news diet, rich in communication and the perspective parents provide, promotes growth for their minds.
Now that you are a news expert, here are specific tips for talking with your kids about common news topics.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
TV Hurts Kids' School Performance: Study
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
Too much time spent in front of the television can drag down kids' grades and help spur poor eating habits that lead to obesity.
So conclude two U.S. studies tracking the potentially harmful effects of TV -- and the power of parents to curb those effects.
One study found that more time in front of the TV during weekdays meant poorer school performance at school. Academic achievement was especially impacted for children with unrestricted access to all types of TV programming, the researchers found.
"We found a relationship between watching TV for longer hours on school days and worse school performance," said study author Dr. Iman Sharif, an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Montefiore and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. "There was an even stronger relationship between kids who could watch R-rated movies or whatever they wanted on TV. They did worse in school."
The second study tracked the volume, and types, of food-related advertising included in programming aimed at preschoolers. Most ads were aimed at pulling tots toward long-lasting relationships with particular products, the researchers found.
"The majority of child-oriented food advertisements viewed seemed to take a 'branding' approach -- focusing on creating lifelong customers rather than generating immediate sales," wrote study author Susan Connor, from Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland. "Promotional spots on advertisement-supported and sponsor-supported networks took similar approaches and used similar appeals, seeming to promote the equation that food equals fun and happiness," she said.
Both studies are published in the October issue of Pediatrics.
According the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average American child spends about four hours each day in front of the TV. That's far more than the AAP recommendation of no more than one to two hours a day of "screen" time, which also includes time spent playing video games or chatting with friends online.
Previous studies have linked television exposure to increased odds for obesity, aggression and high-risk behaviors, Sharif's study noted. But, most of the previous studies on TV viewing and its effects on children have been conducted on younger children.
Sharif and her colleagues wanted to assess TV and video games' effects on middle school-aged children.
To do so, they tracked the viewing habits of over 4,500 children in grades five through eight, asking the youngsters about their TV viewing and video game-playing habits during the week and on the weekend. They also kept track of each child's school performance by asking kids to rate themselves as excellent, good, average or below average students.
TV watching on weekends did not appear to affect school performance, the researchers found.
However, that wasn't the case for weekday viewing. Of the children that did not watch any TV on weekdays, 50 percent said their school performance was excellent, compared to 42 percent for those who watched less than an hour a day. When TV viewing jumped to between one and three hours daily, the number of kids who said their school performance was excellent dropped to 35 percent.
Programming content mattered, too. Of the group of children whose media content was restricted -- meaning no R-rated movies, and parental guidance for other programming -- 54 percent described their school work as excellent. In contrast, just 22 percent of kids who could watch anything they wanted on TV felt the same way.
"Taking time away from homework results in poorer school performance," theorized Dr. Brenda Kohn, an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City. And, she added, "Not only does TV take time away from homework, it takes away from learning sports and learning how to be active to help maintain good health. It sets children up for a sedentary adult life."
In the second study, Connor randomly selected four-hour blocks of children's television from three different stations: PBS, Disney and Nickelodeon. She looked at all of the content aired between the programs.
Out of 48 hours of television, she listed 130 food-related advertisements. That's about 1.3 food-related ads for every half hour of television. More than half were aimed directly at children, according to the study.
Fifty ads were for fast food and 18 were for sugar-sweetened cereals, Connor found. Most of the ads associated food with fun, being happy, having energy or being excited. According to Connor the fast-food ads, in particular, seemed to focus more on brand recognition and positive associations with their products.
"This is not so different than what went on with cigarette smoking, only here they're advertising food of poor nutritional quality, and it's presented in a way that seems palatable," noted Kohn.
"The finding that there are so many food-related ads on all different types of stations is important to understand. It seems like they're less related to product and more to grabbing customers -- no matter if they're 4 or 14," said Dr. Rebecca Unger, an attending pediatrician at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
She added, "Young children can't tell the difference between advertisements and the programs they're watching."
The bottom line, according to Sharif: "Know how much TV your kids are watching, and know what they're watching."
She added that children shouldn't watch more than two hours of TV daily, and it's even better if you can keep it under one hour, because that's where she said the real differences in schoolwork started to show up.
Also, she said, parents should use the parental block controls provided on TVs or through cable providers to prevent kids from accessing adult content.
More information
Here's some advice on kids and TV from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
SOURCES: Iman Sharif, M.D., associate professor, clinical pediatrics, and associate director, Social Pediatrics Residency Training Program, the Children's Hospital of Montefiore and Montefiore Medical Center, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; Brenda Kohn, M.D., associate professor, pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, and pediatric endocrinologist, New York University Medical Center, New York City; Rebecca Unger, M.D., attending pediatrician, Children's Memorial Hospital, clinical associate professor, pediatrics, Northwestern University and private practice, Northwestern Children's Practice, Chicago; October 2006 Pediatrics
Copyright © 2006 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Health Tips for Kids 9 to 15 Years Old
1. Start your day with breakfast.
Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain waffles or even last night's pizza! See also: Breakfast on the Fly
2. Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.
3. Snack Smart
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups -- a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are okay for occasional snacking.
4. Work up a Sweat
Vigorous work-outs -- when you're breathing hard and sweating -- help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel your best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.
5. Don't Eat Too Much of One Thing
You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthfully. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices from the Food Guide Pyramid and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you to get all these nutrients.
6. Get Fit With Friends and Family
Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week.
7. Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
8. Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. (See: Easy Ways to Eat More Fruit). Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or in a salad.
9. Join in physical activities at school.
Whether you take a physical education class or do other physical activities at school, such as intramural sports, structured activities are a sure way to feel good, look good and stay physically fit.
10.Foods aren't good or bad.
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat, sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choices is important. Fit in a higher-fat food, like pepperoni pizza, at dinner by choosing lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If two pieces of pizza fill you up, don't eat a third.
11. Make Healthy Eating and Physical Activities Fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous -- try new sports, games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, play longer, and look and feel better! Set realistic goals -- don't try changing too much at once.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How to Catch Up at Summer School
By eHow Education Editor
Most of the time kids think of summer school as an imposition. It interrupts their summer vacation and requires them to do schoolwork while other children are enjoying the warm weather. However, summer school is a time to catch up on any work that may not have been completed during the regular school year and helps the student in the long term.
Step 1:
Speak to your child's guidance counselor or teachers. Before your child starts summer school, set up a time to meet with his teacher or guidance counselors. Discuss the reasons that he needs to attend summer school.
Step 2:
See how many courses the child needs to take to reach his current grade level.
Step 3:
Ask for a copy of the summer curriculum. Request a copy of the work to be covered in her summer school classes. This gives you an idea of what to expect in testing and homework.
Step 4:
Set aside time each night for the child to complete his homework and/or study. Since you want the child to pass and catch up with the rest of his classmates, it is important that you enforce study time each evening during the summer.
Step 5:
Get progress reports from the summer school teacher. To make sure that the student is keeping up with her work, talk to the teacher about getting periodic progress notes.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tips for Summer Break
By: Kristin Stanberry
As the school year draws to a close, you and your family probably view summer break as a well-deserved reprieve. If your child has learning and/or attention problems, it’s important to recognize that the shift from school year to summer break (however welcome) represents a transition phase and may pose special challenges for your child.
Regardless of the summer plans you’ve made, you may want to ease into summer in a way that addresses your needs as well as your child’s. Here are some tips to consider:
Tips to Help Parents:
1. Review the summer plans you’ve made to date. Where there are gaps, brainstorm ways to address them, such as parents rotating days off work to stay home with younger kids on unscheduled days.
2. Post the family’s summer schedule. Mark activities (day camp, vacations, your teenager’s work schedule, etc.) on a “family size” calendar posted in a central location. Be sure to note blocks of unscheduled time as well; that way, you can anticipate free time to use as you wish – even if it’s just to enjoy a break in the action.
3. Be prepared to be spontaneous. Keep a running list of places and people to visit when time permits and the mood strikes. Summer — free from homework and tutors — is a good time to stop by the science museum, bike trail, or concert-in-the-park you can’t seem to get to during the school year.
4. If you and/or your child thrive on routine, build as much of it in to your summer schedule as possible. Even so, your routine may change every week or so; find ways to prepare for this transition. This may be as simple as mentally rehearsing the new routine (including daily wake-up time and preparation) with your child before the week begins. Remember: Transitions can be hard for parents, too!
5. Ask other people (spouse, family members, and neighbors) for help shuttling kids to activities and supervising them on their “days off.” Trade carpooling and kid-watching duties with other parents in your neighborhood.
6. Don’t succumb to summer stress! There is bound to be some bedlam and boredom in any household during the summer. When stress strikes, try to shrug it off and find humor in the situation.
Tips to Help Kids with Learning and/or Attention Problems:
1. Revamp — but don’t eliminate — your child’s daily routine. A daily routine gives most kids with learning or attention problems a sense of structure and security. While certain tasks (like doing homework) can be dropped during the summer, new ones (like packing for daily swim lessons) may be added. For fun, you might loosen up on certain chores during the summer, like designating every Friday as “Don’t make the bed” day!
2. Prepare your child for her scheduled activities. If possible, visit the locations where she’ll be during day camp or day care in advance. Have your child talk to counselors, caregivers, as well as other kids have enjoyed those same situations and settings.
3. Have your child contribute to the family calendar. Together, you can determine key dates (e.g., community pool opens for recreation swim, July Fourth barbeque) and have your child mark these on the calendar.
4. Involve your child when preparing for family trips and activities. Depending on her age, she can help you map out driving routes or make a list of the clothing and recreational gear the family will need.
5. Encourage summertime learning. Summer outings may present opportunities for your child to learn about history, geography, and nature. Look for “teachable moments” and encourage her to listen, read, take photographs, collect postcards, and keep a journal of her adventures. This type of learning can boost the self-esteem of a child who struggles in school.
2008 GreatSchools Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally created by Schwab Learning, formerly a program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation Created: 05/17/2004
Getting your kid into summer camp tips
By Laura T. Coffey
MSNBC contributor
Sending children away to summer camp can be hard on everyone involved, especially at first. But the camp experience is something that has helped countless kids make new friends, learn new skills and come home brimming with newfound confidence. And if you’re a parent who works full time, this move also can give you untold relief from stress about child care in the summer months.
With approximately 10,000 camps across the country, though, how are you supposed to pick one? And just how much money will you have to spend?
The following tips can help you navigate the selection process.
1. Get the ball rolling. If you haven’t already found a sleep-away camp for this summer, now is a good time to concentrate on choosing one. Most enrollments happen between December and March. After that, you could land on waiting lists that never yield openings. (The deadlines may not be as onerous for day camps in your area, but ask just in case.)
2. Reflect on your child’s interests and personality. Just because the child of someone you know liked a certain camp, that doesn’t mean yours will. The same camp might not even be a good fit for two siblings from the same family. Interview a variety of camp directors until you get a good sense of what will be best for your child.
3. Decide between specialized or general. For a first sleep-away camp experience, many counselors recommend camps with a general focus so a child can discover new interests. A host of specialty camps also have emerged in recent years, focusing on everything from ballet to diving to football to science to video-game animation to overseas archeological digs, so remember to consider those too.
4. Count the costs. Privately run sleep-away camps charge about $400 to $2,000 a week – a price tag that typically covers general activities, meals, basic medical care and incidentals such as laundry. You can search for camp details on the Web sites of the National Camp Association, the American Camping Association, MySummerCamps.com and numerous other camp-directory Web sites.
5. You can find bargain sleep-away camps. Camps offered by non-profit and service organizations such as church groups, YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA generally cost less than privately run camps — between about $175 and $500 a week. Some church camps charge just $10, and some camps charge low-income children nothing at all.
6. Day camps can be great deals. Check now with your city or county recreation department about daytime camps in your area. Many charge $30 to $150 a week for a wide range of activities, from sports to nature walks to cultural programs to swimming. (Note that some of the camp possibilities mentioned in tips 5 and 6 can end up being less expensive than day care. Some “pre-school” day camps will accept children as young as 3.)
7. Ask about subsidies, financial aid and payment plans. Most camps offer scholarships based on need. Apply for scholarships as early as possible, and never assume that you earn too much to qualify. Most camps also allow you to spread costs out over several months if needed.
HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR COLLEGE KIDS WHEN THEY COME HOME FOR THE SUMMER
June 11 - They go off to college as your sweet little baby, but when your college-age kids come home, all they want to do is sleep and stay out all night. What’s a parent to do? “Today” contributor and psychiatrist, Gail Saltz is with New York Presbyterian Hospital and she offers some tips for parents.
HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR COLLEGE KIDS WHEN THEY COME HOME FOR THE SUMMER
Your summer can end in disaster if your expectations and your college kid’s expectations clash when they come home for the summer.
On the one hand, you are looking forward to seeing your child. You miss them. You expect them to be the same person they were when they left to go off to school. You expect them to step back into the role they had before they left for school in doing household chores, keeping a curfew, telling you almost everything, and following the rules of the family. You want to hear all about their studies, their friends, their ambitions and plans for school. You probably even hope to show them off to the extended family at get-togethers because you are proud of them.
On the other hand, your college kid just wants to come home and sleep, hang out with old friends and new friends, stay out all night and generally do whatever they’ve been doing at school.
They have spent the last year in an unstructured and unsupervised environment and probably really like it that way. This new world of theirs contains new people, new habits and a new style of dressing. You may or may not agree with this, and as a result they may not want to discuss it with you.
As you can see, this can all add up to disaster.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN AVOID BLOW UPS WITH YOUR COLLEGE KID
1. Negotiate conflicts early: There are things you know will be sources of tension. They tend to be curfews, use of the car, phone and Internet too, money use, who can come over when, and household responsibilities. Decide ahead of time what you are willing to settle for with each of these items. Then sit down with your game plan and discuss with them their wishes. Find a place where you can compromise and make these the ground rules for the summer.
2. Be flexible: If you force the same rules on them they had before they lived on their own at school, they will truly resent it and may not want to come home, which would be a loss for you. So try to be more flexible while maintaining certain limits the family needs to coexist.
For instance, let your kid sleep until 1 p.m. for the first few days but then pick a reasonable time (like 10 a.m.) after that so that the rest of the family can do what they need to. Don’t insist they be home by 11 p.m. when you know at school they were out until 4 a.m., but do say they must tell you when they will be home in advance and stick to it or call if they cannot so you don’t have to worry when they aren’t there. If they use the car they must agree to times you can spare it and say when and where they will be, again so you are not left anxious.
3. Encourage an adult-to-adult relationship: When you come off as an authoritative parent, you push your child away. He or she may be struggling to become an adult, and it’s difficult. Try listening to their opinions and ideas. Invite them to discuss how they feel about various issues and then also tell them how you feel. The evolution to this kind of relationship will be very gratifying for both of you.
4. Accept them: While your child is in the new universe of college, they are most likely trying on different personas, which may be different from the way they were before. But you need to be somewhat accepting of their different clothing, hair, friends and independence. In fact, you need to accept them as adults. If you are going to have a good relationship with them, you need to appreciate them for who they are.
5. Show them you want them home: Let them know how happy you are to be with them. It’s easy to get off the path into how much it’s all bugging you and do a lot of griping. This will make them feel unwanted and next time they may not come home. Allow them time with their old and new friends, but then ask them to save some time for you, so you can do something fun together.
Dr. Gail Saltz is a psychiatrist with New York Presbyterian Hospital and a regular contributor to "Today."
2008 MSNBC Interactive
Top Listings
