Category — Healthy Living

What are some ways you boost your children’s or grandchildren’s confidence? Please share them.
Here are some ideas from an article entitled Boosting Children’s Confidence by Carleton Kendrick

Parents should often ask their children to recall positive events in their lives. Talking about your kids’ accomplishments can ground them in optimism as they grow and face new and difficult challenges and disappointments.
These discussions will remind your children of who they really are, and will build their self-esteem and resiliency.

The Words You Need
We all like to reminisce about times when we felt full of joy and achievement. These questions will help reacquaint your children with those moments.

The Words: “What have you done that has made you feel proud of yourself? Why?”
The Reason: Knowing what has given your children a sense of pride gives you insight into who they aspire to be. Their answers might surprise you. Given this information, you can help your kids discover activities that you know they’ll enjoy.

The Words: “What is your favorite family memory? Why?”
The Reason: Kids want to be valued members of their family. Your family can provide a safe place for your children to “just be themselves” and to seek shelter from the storm. It’s vital for you to know the kind of attention that your kids most want and need. It might be a one-on-one time with you, or an event with all family members.

The Words: “What was the best surprise you ever had? What made it so special?”
The Reason: Knowing how we can surprise and delight our children is profoundly important. As they discuss their “best” surprises, other family members can share their most cherished memories, too. This will help everyone learn how to give personalized, memorable surprises.

Conversation Tips
Be ready with some of your own positive remembrances. Your children may not be feeling good about themselves or their lives when you begin this discussion. They may need some vivid reminders of past achievements and good times. Telling them your recollections of their past good deeds and good times will assure them that you’ve been paying attention to their “good stuff.”

Help keep your kids safe online by reviewing these tips.

RECOGNIZE - Teach your children to recognize unsafe and inappropriate situations, web sites, chat rooms and instant messages. When they are aware of where dangers might be, they can avoid those situations.

RESIST – The best way for your children to resist online dangers is by keeping their personal information personal. Tell them not to five out that information to anyone online. Tell them they can resist by saying no and/or leaving the chat room or blocking instant messages from anyone who says anything that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.

REPORT – Tell your children they should report anything they feel in inappropriate to you or another trusted adult. Let them know that you will listen to them and thrust them.
This information was printed in the Questar GasLight News, July 2009

MORE INFORMATION

How do you help children form healthy eating habits for lower cancer risk later in life? By setting a good example, grandparent and parents can make a valuable difference in children’s lifelong health. Go to American Institute of Cancer Research Summer 2009 Newsletter and scroll to page 3 to get more information and great recipes.

What is your secret to a happy family? Share on my blog by July and I’ll send you a Mini Memory Maker.

Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of the book”The Secrets of Happy Families, says there a 4 keys to building a family that will be truly happy.

1. Happy families know who they are. When your family agrees on its core values and consistently lives by those standards you’ll build a stronger family identity and reduce conflict.
2. Happy families lean on others. No family thrives in a bubble. Your extended relatives, friends, neighbors, and other networks are crucial to your happiness.
3. Happy families bounce back. Truly happy families have the resiliency to face life’s challenges and stay strong. Going through difficult times can actually make you feel more connected as a family.
4. Happy families breathe. Families do better when they have plenty of laid-back time together. Whether you’re going for a walk, playing games, making cookies, or just hanging out, the best way to build happy family connections is simply to enjoy one another spontaneously.

Mini Memory Maker

This is an Interactive Site for parents and kids. There’s fun games and nutrition and fitness tips.

This is a fun and decorative way to serve fruit at a party or picnic. WATCH THE VIDEO for directions.

You can serve these lollipops and other snack at your 4th of July celebration or any other summer activity. They can even be used as a centerpiece.
I found the idea in Rebook Magazine then used ingredients I had on hand. Choose the foods you and your family like.
I used:
cherry tomatoes
avocado
olives
strawberries
blueberries
cottage cheese
Triscuits
Other ideas:
cream cheese
cheese squares
pineapple chunks
The possibilities are endless.

tomatoes, avocado, olives

strawberries, blueberries, cottage cheese

Triscuits, cottage cheese, strawberries, blueberries

A strawberry is a superstar when it comes to anti-oxidant power! Strawberries are packed with flavonoids called quercetin and kaempferol. Research shows that these two flavonoids help keep “bad” (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing and damaging artery walls.
They also contain ellargic acids which acts as a scavenger to “bind” cancer-causing chemicals, making them inactive. This information may be a bit to technical so the bottom line is EAT MORE STRAWBERRIES!

Frozen Yogurt Strawberry Pops
You’ll Need:
1 – 8oz container of nonfat, strawberry yogurt
1 C diced strawberries
small paper cups
plastic wrap
popsicle sticks
Directions:
1. Evenly pour yogurt and strawberries into small paper cups.
2. Stretch a small piece of plastic wrap across the tip of each cup.
3. Make a small opening in the plastic wrap and insert the popsicle stick in the center.
4. Freeze until solid.
5. Remove the plastic wrap, peel away the paper cup and eat your pop.
Yield: 4 servings
This information was found in a Granite School District publication May 2009.

Great Tips

This would be handy for kids to have close by throughout the summer. They just put it in their backpacks and they’re ready for minor emergencies.
Go to Mini First Aid Kit for directions.