Safe & Sound is a magazine published by Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics in Kansas City. This quarterly publication features health and safety news from pediatric care experts at Children's Mercy.
Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/231462
Resolve to make 2014 your family's healthiest year yet. HEALTHY RESOLUTION NO. 1: I resolve to limit screen time—watching television, playing video games, browsing the Internet on a phone, tablet or computer—to no more than two hours per day. "Not only is physical activity helpful for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, but it also provides sounder sleep, improved mood, stress relief and overall better health," says Amy Beck, PhD, clinical child psychologist, Weight Management at Children's Mercy and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UMKC School of Medicine. "Conversely, screen time involves sitting still, often for long periods. Too much screen time can contribute to obesity because of this inactivity and because kids might also eat—and sometimes mindlessly overeat—highcalorie, low-nutrient snacks while inactive." RESOLUTION NO. 2: I resolve to eat more vegetables and fruit and less fast food, sweet drinks and fatty snacks. "The saying, 'garbage in, garbage out,' describes what happens when children have poor eating habits," says Karen Stephens, MS, RD, CSP, LD, Manager, Nutrition Services at Children's Mercy. "An unhealthy diet can harm a child's physical and mental growth and development. Some children may develop conditions, such as prediabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, which often continue into adulthood. More importantly, healthy eating helps a child be the best he or she can be, increases energy and provides fuel for an active life." TURNING RESOLUTIONS INTO REALITY Many people start out on a good path with New Year's resolutions, but lose momentum by the spring. How can your family stay on track? Follow us! • Set realistic goals. Choose one or two healthy changes to make, aim to follow through four or five times a week and track your progress. • Make wellness a family priority. Create house rules about "parking" gadgets or "screen-free hours" that apply to everyone. When children beg for sugary or fatty snacks, offer fresh alternatives. • Lead the way. Kids are much more likely to eat nutrientdense foods or engage in physical activity if they see parents doing it too. • Make it fun. Healthy habits should never be a chore. At the grocery store, challenge children to find a variety of foods the whole family will enjoy. Let children try organized sports, movement-based video games (see "Game On" on page 2), fun fitness classes or videos for Zumba® or yoga. To see Karen Stephens talk about the importance of breakfast, visit Children's Mercy on YouTube at http://bit.ly/cmbreakfast or use your smartphone to read this QR code. Kid-Speak Decoded Children love to use secret codes to communicate "kid-to-kid." Do you know what all the shortcuts your children use in text messages mean? BRB ......... Be right back IDK......... I don't know K or KK......... OK Kewl......... Cool LOL......... Laughing out loud TTYL ......... Talk to you later YOLO ......... You only live once www.childrensmercy.org 3