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Family Exercise: Getting the Family to be Healthy Together

photo credit: Ben Sutherland

Parenting and step parenting means making time for children and family activities. As a parent or step parent one wants to be a positive role model to their children. Everyone is living a busy life these days. Even children have more homework to do and more activities they are involved in. Parents can be busy with demands of work and other activities outside of work. This can lead to a decrease in the amount of time families get to spend together.

One thing to keep in mind about parenting and step parenting is the influence one has on the youth. Children follow the lead of the adults in their life. If parents engage in unhealthy eating habits children are most likely to follow suit. A parenting tip is to watch what one eats and make sure the children are given a variety of healthy options to choose from. Allow children to understand what nutrition labels mean and what is within a healthy and unhealthy range so that the children can learn to make nutritious food choices. If a child is old enough allow them to help plan out dinner with the help of a parent.

Another parenting tip includes exercising with the children. Pick an activity that everyone can like if an activity cannot be mutually agreed on pick days when a particular person will pick the activity. The family will do the activity together and encourage each other’s efforts. Parents need to get children away from the television and sedentary activities in order for children, parents, and step parents to stay healthy as a family. Remember to choose a variety of activities in order for youth to not get bored. If a child cannot do a particular activity due to developmental level or lack of coordination try to find an alternative everyone can enjoy. It may take some one on one with the child in order for them to learn the rules and way the game works before they can do the activity as a family.

Parenting help may be needed when a child loses too much weight or gains too much weight as these may be signs of an eating disorder. The child should see a counselor to assess if there are underlying issues in regards to how the child is eating or using exercise. Regular checkups should be done for any child or adult that is starting an exercise regime to make sure that the activity level is appropriate for their fitness and health level.

More often than not engaging in an exercise and nutrition program as a family will be beneficial to everyone who is involved. Children will learn how to make healthy choices that will provide a lasting impact on their health and longevity. Youth will also learn that working out can be fun when done individually or with family members. There is a built in support group when the family works out and eats healthy as a team.

Teaching Parents to have manners

photo credit: Tilemahos Efthimiadis

While sitting at the local Subway Sandwich Shop enjoying a nice hot cup of very strong coffee, and leisurely reading my 2000+ unread emails, I was suddenly and viciously attacked by a four-year old demon named Damien. I know his name because his parents used it repeatedly, yet casually, as Damien proceeded to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting patrons.

It wasn’t the child’s behavior that bothered me, as much as, the parents. They offered no apologies, and made no attempts to control the child.

Common decency would call for at least an attempt to apologize if your child starts hitting a stranger.

If a child is to learn how to be a member of a community, it must first start with the parents.

Confessions of a Tattle Tale

photo credit: christopher frier brown

“Tattle tale, tattle tale..Karen is a tattle tale” … I heard this many a day from my six siblings while growing up in a large middle-class family.  As the family tattle-tale, I had my nose in everyone’s business and couldn’t wait to run to Mom with all the details.  Of course, this didn’t make me very popular with my brothers and sisters.

Fortunately, Mom was a very wise woman who realized my need to feel important.  Tattling wasn’t about getting my siblings in trouble, well not completely, that was only a bonus,  my real reasons for tattling were to get my Mother’s attention.  The goal was to be her “right-hand girl”.

With her Mommy instincts ramped-up to above average,  Mom realized this weakness in me and turned it into a strength.

So exactly how did she solve the tattle tale dilemma?

By setting this one rule.. I could only tattle “good stuff”.  That meant  only telling on my siblings when they were doing something “right”.   Things like.. “Mom.. Darlene is sharing her coke with Jim and John and she is even giving them the most!”  or “I saw Butch outside helping Tracy’s Dad clean up his yard”.

I became a pro at spotting my brothers and sisters doing good and making sure I was the first to tell Mom.  Of course, my brothers and sisters wanted to tell Mom for themselves but they were at least grateful  that I wasn’t reporting the negative news.

Do you have a little tattle tale?  Try encouraging them to spread the “good news”.