Parenting Advice: A Walk In The Park
By: Deanna Mascle -
Today when I picked up my son from school we did not go home or run errands. Instead we headed to our local park and went for a walk. Well, truthfully, I walked and he rode his scooter. Sometimes when we take a walk in the park he rides his bike. That is not important. What is important is that we are outside doing something active together. There are three good reasons why you should take your child for a walk in the park.
An important reason for taking regular walks with your child is health. Your health and your child's health can benefit from walking. An estimated 65 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are either overweight or obese. Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are overweight or obese.
Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adults as does Type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
Walking at a brisk but comfortable pace for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week increases the oxygen intake to the blood and strengthens your heart, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Walking also helps your body regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
In addition to health benefits, walking also offers emotional benefits for your relationship with your child. If you make it a point to walk together at least three times a week then that is three occasions when you can talk without distraction or interruption. You can focus on what your child is saying (or not saying) and ask questions about your child's life. You can also talk about other issues big and small that impact your child and the world. If your child can rely on these occasions then they will also take the opportunity to raise concerns and questions they have as well.
Finally, walking offers social benefits that can help build a stronger relationship with your child and create lasting memories. While not every walk will inspire laughter and joy over time there will be events and shared experiences that will last a lifetime. It is these type of memories that bring families closer together.
So my parenting advice is simply to take a walk in the park, a hike in the woods, or a stroll through your neighborhood with your child. It will be provide many health, social and emotional benefits for you and your child.
An important reason for taking regular walks with your child is health. Your health and your child's health can benefit from walking. An estimated 65 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are either overweight or obese. Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are overweight or obese.
Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased frequency in overweight children and adults as does Type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
Walking at a brisk but comfortable pace for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week increases the oxygen intake to the blood and strengthens your heart, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Walking also helps your body regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
In addition to health benefits, walking also offers emotional benefits for your relationship with your child. If you make it a point to walk together at least three times a week then that is three occasions when you can talk without distraction or interruption. You can focus on what your child is saying (or not saying) and ask questions about your child's life. You can also talk about other issues big and small that impact your child and the world. If your child can rely on these occasions then they will also take the opportunity to raise concerns and questions they have as well.
Finally, walking offers social benefits that can help build a stronger relationship with your child and create lasting memories. While not every walk will inspire laughter and joy over time there will be events and shared experiences that will last a lifetime. It is these type of memories that bring families closer together.
So my parenting advice is simply to take a walk in the park, a hike in the woods, or a stroll through your neighborhood with your child. It will be provide many health, social and emotional benefits for you and your child.
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About The Author:
Deanna Mascle shares more parenting advice and parenting tips at officialfamily.us
Creating Happy, Healthy Teens
By: Kim Olver
There is research that shows that the best outcomes result when parents provide a good balance between guidelines and expectations for their children’s behavior and a positive, supportive relationship.Parents are not meant to be their children’s best friends but in order to raise happy, healthy teens, it is imperative to have a reasonably close relationship, at least as close as your teen will allow.
During this period in your child’s life, he or she is attempting to separate from you by developing his or her own identity that is uniquely different from yours. Teens often find their parents’ values conflict with the values of their peer culture and what they see in the media. While they are separating from you, they are being immersed in a world where almost anything goes.
The only way to maintain any influence during this time is by maintaining a positive relationship. This can be difficult because your children are doing things that scare you and may jeopardize their safety but you need to stay supportive and encouraging. One of the best things you can do for your teenager is to listen. Attempt to understand their life from their unique vantage point.
Ask your children questions and listen to the answers, without judgment. Teens need to know that you are interested in what they do and that their thoughts and ideas won’t be criticized by you at every turn. Resist the temptation to correct everything they say. This will increase the likelihood that your teens will continue to talk to you.
That does not mean that you support their negative behaviors. It is acceptable and important that you let them know how their behavior affects you. If your child starts swearing, it is all right to acknowledge their right to do so with their friends if that is important to them, but you would prefer he or she not use offensive language in your presence. Read more
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