HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

Dating After Divorce

FAMILY LIFE

If you’re a divorced parent with kids, you may be wondering how to handle future relationships. Kids often need some time to adjust to their parents’ separation.

If you’re ready to begin a new romantic relationship after a divorce, keep these tips in mind:

* Consider waiting at least six months to help kids adjust to the divorce.

* Your child doesn’t need to meet everyone you date. Introduce them only if your relationship is becoming serious.

* Prepare for the first meeting with your significant other and child. Don’t expect the first meeting to be perfect.

* Help your child deal with negative feelings. Children often hold out hope that their parents will get back together. Seeing a new significant other in your life can be difficult for them. Be sure to tell them that you and your ex-spouse are not getting back together, but that you still love them and will be their parents no matter what.

* Understand if your child simply doesn’t like your new partner as much as their other parent. This is normal. With time, your child may develop their own special relationship with this person.

* Don’t ask them to keep secrets from their other parent. If you are dating, you may need to tell your ex-spouse about the person in case your child brings it up with them. Your child should not feel uncomfortable when they talk about it with your ex-spouse.

* Remember that your child is always watching. Be cautious about your behavior in front of your child, whether it’s public affection or things you say.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Talking About Adoption: Do’s & Don’ts

FAMILY LIFE

Many families include one or more children who are adopted. If you know someone with an adopted child, there are respectful ways to talk about it with them. And, if you have an adopted child, share these do’s and don’ts with friends and family members so they can be respectful to you.

DO: Use the terms “birth child,” “adopted child,” “birth parents” or “biological parents” only when necessary. This may be during a discussion about the adoption itself. Otherwise, simply use “child” and “parent” with no other description. Once a child is adopted, they are their parents’ child and are no different than a child that was born biologically to them.

DON’t: Use words like “real child,” “natural child,” “real parents” or “natural parents.” These terms can be hurtful to the family and imply that they don’t have a real relationship.

DO: Treat all siblings in a family the same. Parents love all their children equally, whether they were adopted or not.

DON’t: Bring up differences between adopted and biological children or refer to them as “adopted son” or “adopted daughter.” The word “adopted” is often not relevant or needed.

DO: Speak about birth parents as choosing to make the best decision for their child through adoption. Children need to know that their birth parents wanted the best for them.

DON’t: Say words like “put up” or “given up” for adoption. Also, don’t say “they chose not to keep” the child. This makes it sound like the birth parents didn’t care or didn’t want the child.

DO: Celebrate cultural or racial differences within a family.

DON’t: Ignore a child’s ethnicity, race or heritage. Children need support from family and friends to overcome stereotypes and racism.

DO: Support parents who choose to adopt. Adoption is a beautiful gift for both the child and parents. Understand that the parents may be overwhelmed after adoption and may have financial stress. They may also be anxious about having a new child in the family.

DON’t: Ask, “what did you pay for your child?” Children are not sold or bought. Adoption fees go toward social workers, court fees, paperwork, travel and other necessary expenses.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Plan For Happiness During The Holidays

Connect With Relatives

If holidays are sad due to a lost loved one, plan to be with other people.

For many people, holiday times are too hectic and tiring to be enjoyable. For others, living alone or with memories of a lost loved one brings sadness.

* Schedule activities you enjoy, but take time to unwind.

* Keep from over planning, hosting, and attending too many events.

* Lower expectations of having a perfect holiday. Focus on family traditions that are enjoyable, but realistic.

* Talk to someone you trust if you are having sad feelings.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Handle Food With Care

Home Safety

Healthy eating starts with preparation.

Your body will know if you’ve eaten harmful bacteria, because it can make you mildly to very sick. Bacteria spread easily onto hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops – all things that come into contact with food. To avoid problems, cook foods to proper temperatures and follow some simple steps.

Clean: Wash your hands and surfaces often.

* Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food or touching other surfaces.

* Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item.

* Rinse fruits and vegetables with running tap water.

Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate.

* Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from other foods.

* Use one cutting board for fruits and vegetables and another for meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.

* Never place cooked food on a plate that held raw food.

Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods.

* Refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, and other perishables as soon as you get home from shopping for foods.

* Don’t let raw meat, poultry, eggs, cooked food, or cut fruits or vegetables sit at room temperature more than two hours.

* Defrost foods in the refrigerator or cold water. Use the microwave on the defrost setting if you are cooking the food right away.

Cook foods to proper temperatures.

Eggs: 160ºF (Scrambled eggs should not be runny; whites and yolks should be firm.)

Casseroles and leftovers: 165ºF

Ground meat and meat mixtures: 160ºF

Fresh or ground poultry: 165ºF

Fresh beef, pork, veal, and lamb: 145ºF (with a 3-minute rest time)

Fish: 145ºF

Action Step

During your next trip to the grocery store, start with foods that don’t spoil − items in boxes and bags. Then choose meats, poultry, eggs, milk, and frozen foods last to keep them from being at unsafe temperatures for too long.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Safety Matters For You & The Environment

Home Safety

* Follow safety advisories for foods that are contaminated with harmful substances, such as methylmercury in fish and harmful bacteria in produce, etc. You can find out about these fromepa.gov.

* Use seatbelts and safety-approved car seats when riding in vehicles.

* Keep poisons and other harmful items locked and out of reach of children.

* Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and garage.

* Don’t run cars and lawn mowers in the garage. Don’t use gas ranges for heat.

* See that Halloween costumes do not obstruct vision. Use non-toxic makeup instead of masks. Do not leave lighted candles exposed. In the dark, wear light-colored clothing or reflective tape on clothing to be visible.

* Get more safety tips from the National Safety Council atnsc.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Dealing With Family Arguments

FAMILY LIFE

It’s normal to have arguments with your children and spouse. Children learn to voice their opinions through their family first. And all close relationships have disagreements sometimes.

But arguments don’t have to be hurtful.

Handle disagreements in a positive way:

*Pick your battles:Don’t fight over every disagreement. Decide if small things are worth an argument. Walk away from an argument when it’s not an important matter.

*Be open.Try to see others’ point of view. Stop and listen to what they’re saying and really consider it before responding.

*Set boundaries.Arguments should not include name calling, insults or disrespect. Try to avoid shouting, too. If things get heated, take a break and say you’ll discuss it later when everyone feels calmer.

*Look at root causes.Are you arguing with the same person all the time? Or are you having the same argument with multiple people? Think about why this is happening, and what you can do to stop having these conflicts. Consider this preventive care for your relationships.

*Remember that you’re an example.Children see how parents argue. Think about how you would want them to handle a disagreement, and try to model that behavior.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Family That Plays Together Stays Together

FAMILY LIFE

Playing games is an easy and fun way to experience quality interactions and build family connections. The more time you spend together, the stronger your bond will be. But, finding a game that everyone will enjoy can be a challenge. Here are eight games that are fun and accessible to a wide range of ages.

Charades

This classic game is super easy and sure to have everyone laughing. Even better, no one is too young or too old to play.

Pictionary

If you can hold a pencil, you can play pictionary. Whether your family and friends can decipher your drawing is another matter, but all part of the fun.

Minute to win it style games

The idea is to create a challenge and compete for one minute. For example, who can stack the most cups or keep the most balloons in the air? The options are endless.

Ninja course

Using your home or yard as an obstacle course creates many opportunities for play. Set up a ninja course appropriate for your group and compete in teams or race your personal best.

Dominos

You can play the traditional game or just imagine the amazing fun you could create working together with the whole family.

Dice games

Rolling dice is fairly simple for any age. Simple addition or pattern matching is possible for even young kids. Look for games such as Quix™, Farkle™, and Yahtzee™.

Jenga™

This game will test everyone’s dexterity. The simple rules mean young and old can get in the mix.

Card games

A standard deck of cards contains a wealth of all-ages gameplay. Try easy games like snap, pig, or crazy eights.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Helping Children Connect With Nature

Family Fitness

Being connected to the natural world offers a bounty of physical and emotional health benefits, for both adults and children. Encourage your kids to explore and experience the unpredictable magic of Mother Nature.

Tips to help give kids the benefits of playing outdoors in nature:

*Go green (or blue):Get to any sort of natural space close to home and take a simple trail walk or nature hike. That could be a city park, nature reserve, playground with green space, near a lake, or a county, state, or national park. Ask kids to search for interesting rocks or to spot animal tracks in the dirt. No matter how much, even small degrees of contact with trees, plants, insects, and water can deliver benefits to you and your children.

*Make a list and set a date:Once you have made a list of more natural spaces available to you, look at your calendar and see if you can schedule some regular outings with your children for family time in the outdoors!

*Play simple games:You don’t need any special equipment or expertise to play games, such as I spy, hide-and-seek, and pick up sticks. For something a little more organized, go for a scavenger hunt or try geocaching.

*Be a photographer:Bring along a camera or phone so the kids can take photos, then post on social media later to help relive the fun they had.

*Engage the senses:Encourage them to make a list of all of things that they hear, see, smell, and touch in the park, on the trail, or near a lake. When you can’t make it to a park or other outdoor space, your child can benefit from monitoring an indoor plant or a small container garden.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Home Safe Home

Home Safety

Protect your family from accidents, injuries, and intruders.

You should feel safe, protected, and comfortable in your home, even when things go wrong. Make sure you’re doing everything possible to protect yourself and your family. Lock the doors, even when you are home. Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Plan an escape route in case of a disaster.

Safety Tips:

* Use a peephole at the front door.

* If you live alone, arrange for daily contact with a neighbor or relative.

* Post emergency numbers and teach children how to call 9-1-1.

* Stock first-aid supplies.

* Keep chemicals out of your children’s reach.

* Lock guns in one place and bullets in another.

* Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

* Use grab bars and safety mats or nonskid tape in your tub and shower.

* Keep stair areas well-lit. Keep all walkways clear of clutter.

* Make sure there is a clear path for walking from room to room.

* Never leave young children alone in the bathtub or on a bed or table.

Ways to get through a disaster faster:

Write down a plan. Rehearse it and hope you never need it!

* Create separate plans for different disasters, such as a house fire, flood, tornado, etc. Practice drills for each plan with the family.

* Take a first-aid course.

* Choose a check-in person who is unlikely to be involved in the same event.

* Plan two places to meet. Choose one at or near your home. Choose another one at a location farther away, in case you can’t get home.

* If you have kids in school, find out about the school’s crisis plan. Make sure the school has current phone numbers for you and other caregivers. Sign forms that allow the release of your kids to family members or friends.

* If you have pets, plan for their safety.

Action Step

Set up plans to be ready for weather disasters. Contact your cell phone carrier to see if you can get free Wireless Emergency Alerts.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Avoiding Stranger Danger Isn’t Just For Kids

Home Safety

Always be on alert and aware of your surroundings.

You don’t have to be paranoid that people are out to get you, but you should be cautious to avoid being robbed, carjacked, raped, and even killed for nothing more than a pair of shoes. Protect yourself and those you love.

At home:

* When you move into a new home or apartment, change all locks right away.

* Use deadbolt locks on doors. Secure windows so they can’t be opened more than five inches from the outside.

* Keep shades or curtains drawn after dark and turn on outside lights.

* Install motion sensor lights that turn on when someone passes by.

* Don’t open your door to anyone you don’t know.

* Don’t list your first name in the phone book. Keep your name off your mailbox.

On the go:

* Carry a cell phone with you. Make sure it’s charged.

* Walk tall on the streets and stay alert. Avoid walking alone at night, dark alleys, and people who look suspicious.

* Carry a whistle or stickpin.

* Make sure your car has plenty of gas.

* If your car breaks down, call for help. Stay inside with the doors locked and the windows up. Turn on your flashers and wait for police or other help to arrive.

* If someone approaches your car, crack your window and ask him or her to call for help. Don’t let the person into your car.

* Don’t hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers.

* If you are going on a date with someone you just met, meet him or her in a public place.

Action Step

Use common sense. Don’t jog, bike, or hike alone in secluded areas day or night. Instead, join a club or ask a friend who shares the same interests to join you.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026