HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

Feeding The Picky Eater

FAMILY LIFE

Pre-dinner tips

* Get your child involved. Many kids can help with shopping and cooking. Being involved in the process may make them more likely to try new foods. Have them choose a favorite fruit or vegetable from the store. Younger children can help pour ingredients or cut soft foods, like bananas, with a butter knife. Older children can help with measurements.

* Get some exercise. Kids who have been actively playing may be hungrier when dinner comes. The hungrier they are, the more likely they may try new things.

* Turn off devices. Make family mealtimes relaxing and unplugged. Ban cell phones, television or other devices from the table.

Size matters

Don’t force your child to eat foods they don’t like. Rather, put a “sample size” on their plate. It can be just one bite of food. This may be less overwhelming than serving a large portion to them.

Sanity-saving steps

* Make healthier snacks to fill the gaps. Serve fresh fruit or vegetables as a snack to get in extra nutrients. Skip the processed crackers and chips.

* Don’t have a battle. Forcing your child to eat could make them dislike their food even more.

* Don’t use bribes or rewards for eating. Rewards teach your child to expect something every time he/she tries a new food.

* Make one healthy meal for everyone. Don’t feel pressured to make “special meals” for picky eaters.

* Talk about your child’s eating habits with their doctor. Most picky eaters are getting enough of the foods they need. But, ask their pediatrician just in case. Some children need supplements to help get extra nutrients that they’re missing.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Importance Of Chores

FAMILY LIFE

Children are often more capable than we realize. Presenting children with age-appropriate challenges and responsibilities is how parents help them grow. Helping out around the house is the perfect training ground to help prepare your kids for life.

Getting started

* Talk to your child about what it means to be responsible. Explain their new duties as a way they help the family and learn skills they will need for their whole life.

* Create a visual schedule or chore chart.

* Discuss being consistent and reliable.

* If appropriate, lay out consequences for neglecting chores.

* As a parent, be consistent with your expectations.

* The younger the child, the more guidance they will need, especially in the beginning. Do chores with them at first until they have enough skill and confidence.

Age-appropriate chores

Toddlers (2-3)

Toddlers are eager helpers and love to do what you are doing. They will need lots of hands-on guidance, but it’s worth the effort.

* Pick up toys

* Wipe up spills

* Put laundry in the hamper

* Fill up a pet’s food bowl

Preschoolers (4-5)

At this age, more independence may develop as your child gains more motor control and has a better memory.

* Clear the table

* Make their bed

* Water plants

* Sort laundry

* Use a handheld vacuum to clean

Primary schoolers (6-9)

This is the age to reinforce independence and consistency with chore expectations. Your child may begin to push back a bit, but stay firm.

* Clean their room

* Wash dishes

* Vacuum, sweep, or mop

* Help with meal prep

* Rake or pull weeds

Middle schoolers (10-13)

By middle school, your child can truly help with tasks around the house and should have the ability to do a variety of chores.

* Do laundry

* Take out trash

* Load and unload the dishwasher

* Wash the car

* Make their lunch

High-schoolers (14+)

Moving toward adulthood, now is the time to make tasks more challenging and ensure they have the necessary skills.

* Mow the lawn

* Prepare a meal

* Care for siblings

* Help with deep cleaning

* Iron and mend clothes

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Youth Sports Safety

Family Fitness

Every year, millions of children are injured while playing sports and doing physical activities. Most of these injuries could be prevented.

Wearing a safety helmet helps prevent a closed head injury when biking, inline skating, etc.

Some states and localities have mandatory laws for helmet usage.

All helmets sold in the U.S. must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard. There must be a sticker on the inside stating this. The fit of the helmet is not tested by the standards, so you should try the helmet on your child’s head before buying.

Learn more about safety helmets from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute athelmets.org.

Get youth sports safety guidelines from the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute atacsm.org/nyshsi/best-practices.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Home Safety Checklist

Home Safety

* Keep your doors locked.

* Use a peephole in the front door.

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

* Clearly post emergency numbers. Teach children how to call 9-1-1, etc. for help.

* Stock first aid supplies. In case of accidental poisoning, call the Poison Control Center (800.222.1222) for advice.

* Install smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide detector. Check them every 6 months. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

* Never smoke in bed or when you feel drowsy. Better yet, don’t smoke at all!

* If you use a space heater, make sure it has an emergency shut off.

* Plan an escape route in case of fire. Practice it with all household members every couple of months.

* Keep flashlights handy.

* Use night lights.

* Keep stair areas well lit.

* Have snow and icy patches cleared from the sidewalk and steps.

* Be careful or stay home if it is icy or slippery outside.

* Monitor your medication use. Let your doctor know if medicine(s) affect your vision, balance, etc. If prescribed sedatives or tranquilizers, be careful when you take them. They can increase the risk of falls.

* Don’t get up too quickly after lying down, resting, or eating a meal. Low blood pressure can cause dizziness.

* Wear nonslip, snug-fitting shoes and slippers.

* Use safety mats or nonskid tape in your tub and shower. Install grab bars in the shower and tub, too.

* If you use a shower bench, use one with rubber tips on its legs.

* Before getting in the tub, test the bath water. Make sure it is not too hot.

* Never lock the bathroom door.

* Use a cane or walker, if necessary.

* Install handrails on both sides of the stairs. Keep clutter off stairs.

* Don’t use loose area rugs. See that carpet on stairs is nailed down securely.

* Arrange furniture so there is a clear path for walking. Test if furniture is sturdy enough to lean on.

* Clear away phone or electrical wires from walk paths.

* Use a step stool with a safety rail.

* Be alert to spills or wet floors.

* To pick up things, bend at your knees and keep your back straight. Don’t stoop.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Know How To Use A Fire Extinguisher

Home Safety

Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher. Extinguishers should be mounted in plain sight and be simple for all family members (except small children, of course) to use in an emergency. Show the babysitter how it works, too.

* Buy a multipurpose extinguisher rated 2A10BC or higher. The letters indicate the type of fire the extinguisher will douse. “A” units are for combustible materials like paper or wood, “B” units are for flammable liquids like gasoline, and “C” units are for electrical fires. The numbers relate to the size of the fire. The higher the number, the greater the capacity to extinguish that fire.

* Check for a UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or FM (Fire Mutual) code. They tell you the product is effective, safe, and reliable.

* Be sure the directions are simple to understand. Mount the fire extinguisher securely, in plain sight.

* Be sure you understand how the firing mechanism works. Check to see whether you need to push a button or pull a lever. Don’t activate the extinguisher, though. Once you do, it must be serviced and recharged, even if you only use it for a few seconds and the gauge indicates it’s full.

* Check the pressure indicator once a month to be sure the extinguisher works.

To use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS.

* Pull the pin.

* Aim the nozzle or barrel at the base of the fire, not at the flames.

* Squeeze the handle.

* Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Caregiving Takes A Toll On Marriage

FAMILY LIFE

Caring for an aging parent puts a strain on marriage, said 80% of baby boomers. This insight is one of many garnered from a research study conducted by Caring.com to measure the impact of caregiving on marriage.

“Raising children is a challenge, but caring for aging parents can be an even greater challenge,” said Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz. “The time spent caring for an aging parent can take a serious toll on the caregiver’s relationship with their spouse.”

Baby boomers who are working full-time are providing financial help to aging parents and/or have aging parents living with them are at the greatest risk of marital strain.

Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz are the authors of the book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage. They suggest these ways to cope with the care of aging parents while maintaining and strengthening your marriage:

* Talk openly with each other about feelings, emotions, and stresses as they relate to your care of aging parents.

* Make a concerted effort every day to keep the flame of your love affair with each other alive.

* Approach all financial challenges with teamwork and open communication.

* Don’t blame each other when things get tough, since casting blame never solved a problem.

* Don’t wallow in self-pity. It’s a wasted emotion.

* Enhance your love relationship by providing each other occasional time for privacy and solitude.

* Remember that the simple things matter in marriage, and they need to be practiced each day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Choose A Quality Hospice

FAMILY LIFE

When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious or life-limiting illness, the questions facing an individual or a family can be overwhelming. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization recommends that people learn more about hospice as an important option before they are faced with a medical crisis.

Hospice is not a place but a kind of care for people who have a life-limiting illness and are making the choice to focus on quality and comfort if more conventional treatments have become burdensome.

Hospices provide high-quality care that is tailored to your loved one’s needs and that supports family caregivers.

Your doctor and other health care providers or your company’s EAP may recommend hospice providers in your area. You can also get a list of hospice providers and more information about hospice from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization atwww.nhpco.org.

Important questions in choosing a quality hospice include:

* Is the hospice Medicare certified?

* What services should I expect from the hospice?

* How are services provided after hours?

* How and where does hospice provide short-term inpatient care?

* What services do volunteers offer?

* How long does it typically take the hospice to enroll someone once the request for services is made?

When should hospice care begin?

Every patient and family must decide that based upon their unique needs. Professionals encourage people to learn about care options long before they think they may need them.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Prevent Ear Infections

FAMILY LIFE

“Most children will have at least one ear infection by the time they are 2 years old,” said Dr. Heather Gomes of the Boys Town National Research Hospital. “For those children who have recurring ear infections, further evaluation and treatment by an ear, nose and throat physician is recommended to avoid delays in speech and language skills.”

The top 5 tips to prevent ear infections –

1. Protect your child from secondhand tobacco smoke.

2. Reduce your child’s exposure to colds during the first 2 years of life as much as possible.

3. Breast-feed your baby during the first 6 to 12 months of life.

4. Bottle-feed your child by holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle.

5. Discuss with your doctor any significant symptoms such as excessive spitting up or stomach pain because this is a risk factor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Greatest Gift

FAMILY LIFE

Forget that fancy wrapped gift box. The chance to spend time with loved ones can be more valuable than the most expensive gift, says Sheri Bridges, professor of marketing at Wake Forest University.

Memories of the occasion will live on long after the contents of a ribbon-wrapped box have been forgotten or discarded.

How to give the gift of memories this holiday? Bridges offers a few ideas.

*Take a day trip.Go to the zoo, a favorite restaurant in a nearby city or visit a town with quaint shops. Follow-up by giving the gift of a photo book of the trip, and as the years pass, the pictures become reminders of the feelings and fun of time spent together.

*Offer tickets to a football or basketball game, a play or a musical performance– anything that isn’t part of the recipient’s normal routine.

*Do chores.Baking cookies, wrapping gifts, taking down decorations, straightening up the garage, cleaning out closets-any task that seems hard when performed alone can become fun when shared.

*Relax and recharge.Take a relative or friend to get a massage, pedicure or facial. Spend time together while getting pampered.

*Time alone, together.Unless you make a special effort, it can be hard to find time to spend with family and friends. Watching a favorite movie, sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire, playing Scrabble-these are things that require a real time commitment and focus, and say, “I am putting you first now.”

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
You Can Survive A Family Vacation With The In-Laws

FAMILY LIFE

Instead of calling it “the 7 worst days of your life,” change the mantra to “this will be fun and interesting,” advises Wake Forest University Professor of Counseling Samuel T. Gladding, when describing a family vacation that includes your in-laws.

Time spent together on the beach or at another vacation place can help children bond with grandparents, Gladding said. “If you don’t have some exposure to extended family, you will never truly get to know them. It takes time, effort and expense to be in the same place with them. The dividend is that you get to know them and then you can build a relationship. That’s how people grow.”

Connecting with extended families is important because family members have skills, contacts, and abilities beyond those found in nuclear families, he said. Tapping into that family power is a good idea.

Plan the right activities. Arrange constructive activities that involve interaction, such as cooking or playing board games. A Gladding family favorite is charades because it is silly and makes people laugh. When people laugh together, they create good memories that help build relationships.

But don’t plan to spend every minute with the group. Set aside time to go out to eat or do some other favorite activity with your own immediate family. It’s okay to say, “For this block of time, we want to have just our small family together.”

If you set expectations in advance, no one will be surprised when you take a break on Tuesday night to go play miniature golf. It also gives the grandparents some space they might appreciate just as much as you do.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026