Healthy Highlights
April is Month of the Military Child
According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 1.7 million military children worldwide. To honor the unique sacrifices of children whose parents serve in the military, each April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. Here are some ways you can show your support for military families and military children: Read…
Jump Into Spring and Get Your Family Moving!
Spring is here, and this means warm, sunny weather is right around the corner! Spring and summer days provide us with more hours of daylight and more opportunities to be active with our families after the work day! The United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children engage in aerobic activities for…
Exercise Produces More Than Endorphins
Research has shown that engaging in physical activity can be beneficial for all human beings. It can reduce heart disease, combat obesity in children and adults, control blood glucose levels (Riddell et al., 2016), and enable one’s body to release hormone groupings called endorphins, which allow people to feel good and happy. As mental health…
Are Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks Appropriate for Kids?
While sports drinks and energy drinks are two completely different beverages, many parents may not know what the differences are between the two. Sports drinks are flavored, sweetened beverages designed to restore energy and fluids, and they contain electrolytes, minerals, and carbohydrates. These drinks have extra calories that could contribute to obesity and tooth decay.…
Effects of Social Media Use on Teenagers
The adolescent stage of development can be defined by change or transformation. As early as age 11, parents may start to notice physical, developmental, emotional, and social changes in their pre-teen. Emotional ups and downs, a push for independence, new friend groups, and academic pressures are common experiences among adolescents. In today’s technological world, an…
School-based Obesity Intervention Recommended by Community Preventative Services Task Force (CPSTF)
The Community Preventative Services Task Force (CPSTF) was established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in 1996 to develop guidance on which community-based health promotion and disease prevention intervention approaches have the most effectiveness based on available scientific evidence (The Community Guide, 2019). The findings of the CPSTF are listed within…
CYFAR Health Assessment Tool (CHAT)
Not sure what area to focus on to improve healthy habits in your setting? Don’t know how to see if your 5210 message is getting across? Try using the CYFAR Health Assessment Tool (CHAT). CHAT is a quick, picture-based survey for youth so you can get a snap shot of their healthy habits. You could…
Don’t forget to wash your hands!
Say bye, bye! to the common cold and other ordinary winter diseases. Simply washing your hands can reduce the occurrence of respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%. This reduction can, in turn, decrease absenteeism due to sickness in school children by 29-57% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). Germs…
Snacks before bedtime?
Do you or your children have trouble sleeping at night? There are many factors that can disrupt your quality of sleep. For example, according to the Sleep Health Foundation, if adults and children spend too much time viewing screens, don’t get enough physical activity, have irregular sleeping routines, and consume caffeine, they may have issues…
New Year for 5210!
Happy New Year to you and your family! With the New Year comes a fresh start and gentle reminders of healthy habits. Drum roll please! We would like to reintroduce our 5210 program and discuss what it stands for and how to implement the healthy practices it purposes as a family. 5 or more…