GET FIT WITH YOUR FAMILY
5 Easy Ways to Get Everyone Moving
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. As a parent, you probably know exercise is important for your children’s physical development. It helps build healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases later in life. But did you know that physical activity also has many mental and behavioral health benefits? It’s been shown to improve children’s cognitive skills and concentration, boost their self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. One of the best ways to encourage healthy behaviors in your children is by modeling them yourself. Studies have found that more than 80% of adolescents and adults are not getting enough aerobic activity, showing that children often follow in their parents’ footsteps and that exercising together can benefit everyone. You may be thinking it’s hard enough just to get yourself to the gym, but StephenVirgilio, author of“Active Start for Healthy Kids,”encourages parents not to limit themselves to traditional forms of exercise. Instead, think of exercise more
broadly as“leading an active lifestyle.”And remember that exercise can be fun and a great way to get in more family time.
Here are five easy ways to incorporate more movement into your family’s day. 1. Create a walking ritual. Start walking around the neighborhood before or after dinner each night. Aim for a 20-minute stroll. 2. Have a dance party. Clear some space in the living room, make a playlist with everyone’s favorite tunes, and boogie down for as long as you have the energy. 3. Turn chores into games. Dirt has invaded from outer space and must be eliminated. Set the scene with your kids, grab your tools, and get to work removing the enemy while having fun. 4. Incorporate simple exercises into screen time. Start by making up fun names for exercises like situps or jumping jacks. Then, challenge each other to see who can do the most during your favorite show’s commercial breaks. 5. Get fit in the great outdoors. Cleaning up the yard, planting and maintaining a garden, or just running around outside are all great ways to get in more movement.
A Word From Cheyenne:
Don’t Be a ' Sucker' !
When Do Kids “Age Out” of Thumb Sucking and Pacifier Use?
Sucking on a pacifier or a thumb is a natural reflex for human infants and children, and it’s well- documented throughout history. There’s a
Usually kids stop between ages 2–4, but pay attention to yours and notice their own unique habits. If you see a child’s baby teeth are being“pushed back”by age 4, that’s an indication that permanent teeth will do the same. It’s a good time to consult with a dentist or at least mention it during their next checkup appointment. One reason to stop the habit early is because breaking it, like all bad habits, is easier said than done, right? First, always remember it is a natural reflex, especially if a child feels insecurity, has an illness, or is suffering discomfort. Discipline for thumb sucking is completely out — not only does it not work, but it also creates more of the anxiety that caused the behavior in the first place. Help your child find a way to cope without that pacifier or thumb. If they are older, let them be involved in this discussion and come up with rewards for breaking the habit. –Cheyenne, RDH
reason pacifiers were invented, after all, and it can really be a comforting thing for a child to do. But that impulse can have negative effects if allowed to go on too long. The question is this: How old is “too old”for sucking? Although the true answer is“when permanent teeth start to come in,”there are a lot of good reasons to stop a child
from the thumb- or pacifier-sucking habit. The simple truth is that since it pushes up the roof of the mouth, it can cause damage to palate development,
which means teeth won’t line up right and braces become much more likely in the future — something most kids would thank you to help them avoid!
2 | Elkins Dental
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