Happy New Year!

Healthy Resolutions for the New Year.

It’s that time of the year, when many people start making resolutions for the upcoming year. While this is usually seen as a “grown up” activity, it can also be a good way to encourage good habits and behavior in your children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released some helpful tips that you can encourage your children to follow.

Preschoolers

• I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day.
• I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones.
• I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help or I am scared.

Kids, 5 to 12 years-old

• I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and limit my drinking soda and fruit drinks.
• I will use sunscreen when outdoors. On sunny days, I will also try to stay in the shade and wear a hat and sunglasses.
• I will try to find a sport or an activity that I like and do it at least three times a week.
• I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike.
• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
• I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends or who may have a hard time making friends.
• I’ll never give out private information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer.
• I will try to talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.
• I promise that I’ll do my best to follow our household rules for video games and internet use.

Kids, 13 years-old and up

• I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only at special times.
• I will do my best to take care of my body through fun physical activity and eating the right types and amounts of foods.
• I will choose non-violent TV shows and video games, and I will spend, at most, only 1-2 hours/day on these activities.
• I will help out in my community – through giving some of my time to help others, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find helpful ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or talking about my problem with a parent or friend.
• When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
• When I notice my friends are struggling or making risky choices, I will talk with a trusted adult, so we can help them.
• I will be careful about whom I choose to date. I will treat the other person with respect and not force them to do something they do not want to do. I will not use violence. I will expect to be treated the same way in return.
• I will resist peer pressure to try tobacco, e-cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.
• I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

Source: HealthyChildren.org