Presbyterian | Spring 2018 | Your Story

3 www.phs.org/centennialcare 5 steps to raising healthy, happykids 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. 1 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 preventive 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. 2 Model a healthy lifestyle. Kids often mimic adults’ behavior. Set an example by following 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. 3 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. 4 Serve them healthy meals. Create a home where healthy choices are available for everyone in the family. For meals, aim to follow the ChooseMyPlate (choosemyplate.gov ) example by covering half the plates you serve in fruits and vegetables. Divide the other half between whole grains and lean sources of protein. Other tips for nutritious family meals: Make sure everyone eats breakfast. Prepare food at home as a family. And limit fast food and take-out. Starting your kids on healthy foods now makes them more likely to choose healthy foods in the future. 5 Help them build confidence and resilience. Children and teens need to develop strengths, learn coping skills, and be able to recover from life’s disappointments. That’s called resilience: believing in yourself enough to get back up and try again. To help build that kind of confidence in your children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: ■ ■ Focusing on the best in each of your children so that they see the good in themselves too ■ ■ Recognizing when your children have done well ■ ■ Offering honest praise about specific achievements ■ ■ Giving your children unconditional love, regardless of their accomplishments Additional sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mental Health America Centennial Care for Native Americans: Wholeness Need help finding a provider? Call us at 1-505-923-5200 or 1-888-977-2333 (toll-free). Good medical care can help kids grow up to be healthy adults. Make an appointment with your child’s provider today.