May/June 2013-Parent Tip On A Healthy Summer
I thought I would write a page about how to keep kids/tweens/teens healthy this summer; physically, academically and socially.
In terms of all ages and trying to begin or continue healthy habits, employ the 5-2-1 game plan. This stands for; eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day, watch no more than 2 hours of screen time, and 1 hour of exercise (if not more). It is a simple 5-2-1 formula that is easy to remember and all members of the family can strive for.
Kids are more likely to gain weight in the summer due to inactivity or snacking too much. One of the ways to control the types of snacking is to post a stoplight picture where Green means anytime foods (fruits and veggies), yellow means slow down and ask permission before eating, and red means stop-only treats when allowed. You can list the various food items on each light and post this on the fridge.
Academically, it is important to prevent the "summer slide" where some skills are lost or weakened because of not working on them. Either create a book club in your neighborhood where every reads the same book and then as a celebration, you can watch the movie together of that book (if available). This is a fun way to combine reading with socializing. Summer workbooks provide a nice structure for kids and helps to keep their skills alive.
In terms of the tweens and teens where they are too old for day camps and too young for jobs, perhaps getting C.I.T. training would be fun. Another way to earn money is to babysit, create a small business (duct tape products?) and other jobs that people in the neighborhood may be interested in paying for.
Make sure you make time for family fun, fitness and photos to enjoy the relaxing summer days!!
If you would like more ideas on how to create a healthy summer for your kids, please feel free to call me or email me!
Thanks,
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor
In terms of all ages and trying to begin or continue healthy habits, employ the 5-2-1 game plan. This stands for; eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day, watch no more than 2 hours of screen time, and 1 hour of exercise (if not more). It is a simple 5-2-1 formula that is easy to remember and all members of the family can strive for.
Kids are more likely to gain weight in the summer due to inactivity or snacking too much. One of the ways to control the types of snacking is to post a stoplight picture where Green means anytime foods (fruits and veggies), yellow means slow down and ask permission before eating, and red means stop-only treats when allowed. You can list the various food items on each light and post this on the fridge.
Academically, it is important to prevent the "summer slide" where some skills are lost or weakened because of not working on them. Either create a book club in your neighborhood where every reads the same book and then as a celebration, you can watch the movie together of that book (if available). This is a fun way to combine reading with socializing. Summer workbooks provide a nice structure for kids and helps to keep their skills alive.
In terms of the tweens and teens where they are too old for day camps and too young for jobs, perhaps getting C.I.T. training would be fun. Another way to earn money is to babysit, create a small business (duct tape products?) and other jobs that people in the neighborhood may be interested in paying for.
Make sure you make time for family fun, fitness and photos to enjoy the relaxing summer days!!
If you would like more ideas on how to create a healthy summer for your kids, please feel free to call me or email me!
Thanks,
Jennifer Moyer-Taylor