Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Fall 2018

8 FAITH REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES to raising healthy, happy kids Help them stay active. Kids should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. That’s easy for kids who play basketball or soccer or who like to ride their bike everywhere they go. But not all kids are naturally active, so you may have to step in. Take the whole family for bike rides after dinner. Go for hikes on weekend mornings. Or crank up the music and have a family dance party. 5 s t e p s Model a healthy lifestyle. Kids often mimic adults’ behavior. Set an example by fol- lowing these healthy habits—and insisting that your children do the same: •  Live a smoke-free life. And don’t let other people smoke around your kids. •  Always buckle up in the car and use the appropriate car seats for your children. •  Keep only healthy snacks around the house—such as cut-up vegetables, low-fat yogurt, whole-grain crackers and low-fat cheese. • Wear sunscreen when you go outdoors and a helmet when you ride a bike. • Wash your hands often. And brush your teeth twice a day. ALL PARENTS PRETTY MUCH WISH the same things for their kids: They want them to be healthy and happy. Not just while they’re children, but when they’re adults too. There’s no method that guarantees success. But how you raise your children—the habits you instill in them, the way you behave around them—can have a dramatic impact on the adults they become. Here are five things you can do to help make your parenting wishes come true. 2 3 Make sure your kids get regular checkups and all of their vaccines. Regular checkups may be one of the best ways to ensure your children’s health for years to come. Routine visits with a doctor will include pre- ventive services that can find health problems early, when they’re often easier to treat. And the vaccinations your children receive can help protect them from serious diseases like pertussis (whooping cough), measles, polio and even some cancers. 1