Sideline Etiquette

Sideline Etiquette

When your child plays sports, support him or her efforts by being a good sport yourself.  Follow these sideline etiquette tips:

1. Always be positive and praise your child’s efforts.  Congratulate on a winning touchdown rather than be disappointed by an dropped pass.
2. If you couldn’t make the game, ask your child, “How did you play?” instead of “Did you win?”
3. Cheer for your child’s team but always root for good play no matter what
4. Always remind your child and his or her friends of the reason that they are playing sports which hopefully is to have fun.
5. Politely remind unruly parents of why they are at the games which is hopefully not for themselves but rather to watch their children.

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Healthy Lunch Box Snacks That Kids Will Love

 

Healthy Lunch Box Snacks That  Kids Will Love

 

Summer is almost over and the start of the school year is right around the corner.  Make sure that you send your kids back to school with a healthy lunch that they will enjoy and leave them feeling full of energy and provide the necessary nutrients that their growing bodies need.  Try these easy lunch box stuffers:

 

• Peanut Butter and Jelly, try out this healthy pb & j, or use a whole wheat bread with natural peanut butter and low sugar jelly
• Vegetable sticks with a small container of salad dressing for dipping
• Fresh fruit
• Pretzels
• Celery sticks filled with cream cheese or peanut butter and raisins
• Fruit yogurt
• Pudding
• Whole grain Crackers–plain or with peanut butter or cheese
• String cheese sticks
• Graham crackers
• Fortune cookies
• Dried fruit
• Fruit leather
• Nuts
• Whole grain Tortilla chips with a small jar of salsa
• Small bags of popcorn without all of the butter

 

Of course who can forget the stickers and a cute note from you.  If you have any other snack ideas or recipes that you or your kids love please send them to Brooke and she will post on her website along with your name and info.

Raising Healthy Kids

Summer is here and there is no better time to get your kids out of the house and involved in outdoor activities. According to recent studies, obesity in children has been linked to to extra media exposure including TV, video games, and Internet surfing. Plan ahead and make a schedule for your kids to follow, limiting the amount of media exposure during the week, especially if you leave the kids with a sitter while your away at work. Encourage your kids to play outdoors and only come in for TV, video games, and Internet when you are at home. Here are a few great outdoor activities and events to keep your kids away from the remote this summer:

Swimming
Bicycling
Summer Camps, check out your local YMCA
Softball
Volleyball
Junior Golf League
Tennis
Rollerblading
Skateboarding

As with any activity performed outdoors in the Summer, be sure to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and wear appropriate safety equipment.

Get Your Kids Moving Today!

Could a family exercise night be what your kids need to stay healthy?  ”Kids will be less likely to want to work out and be involved in fitness if they see their parents uninterested in these activities”, according to Brooke Griffin.  ”You should make exercise an every week family activity and you will have more success at getting your kids motivated to stay in shape and take part in physical exercise.”  

Try new activities that are fun.  Kids will get bored if they do calisthenics only.

Take a karate class
Go for a family bike ride
Work out to an exercise video together
Walk with your kids, in the neighborhood, to school
Organize play dates with your kids and their friends and incorporate an outdoor activity like going to the park
Start a family tradition like going hiking, volleyball, softball, or tennis