HealthyLife Articles

Tag: responsibility

  • The Importance Of Chores

    FAMILY LIFE

    Child holding a load of clothes in her arms.

    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

  • Change Is Your Choice

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 3

    Elderly couple eating dinner.

    The decision to make changes is up to you. You can decide which changes you want to make, how long it takes you to make them, and who you tell.

    Check in with yourself daily. Pick one of your action steps from Part 2 or a new one. Answer the following:

    *  What do I want to do? Am I willing to do this?

    *  If there is something I am unable to do, what do I need to do to get there?

    *  What am I going to do right now?

    Check in with Your Values

    Remember those values you identified in Part 1?

    *  How will continuing this journey help me live another one of my values?

    *  How have I cared for myself today?

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Choosing A Family Pet

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of Hispanic family with a pet dog.

    Pets aren’t just for kids. Owning a pet can improve your family’s health in many ways, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC). Pets can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and offer companionship to all members of your household. Before you choose one, think about these factors.

    All pets need daily care.They need attention, food, and a place to sleep. Dogs need to be walked and taken outside daily. Cats need a clean litter box. Veterinary visits and vaccines are important. Look into the pet you want, and make sure you’re ready to do everything it takes to keep the pet healthy. It’s a daily commitment that you’ll need to stick with for many years.

    Make sure everyone in the family is ready.Caring for a pet is best done with everyone’s help. Are your kids ready to help feed a dog and walk it? Are the parents ready for veterinary costs, cleaning up after the pet, and arranging for pet care during vacations?

    With certain reptiles, small animals and birds, proper hygiene is very important.Some pets, such as birds, reptiles and amphibians, can spread illness to humans. Visitwww.cdc.gov/healthypetsfor information about preventing illness.

    As long as you carefully consider all the care your pet will need, you can make an informed choice about your next furry friend.

    Source: American Humane Association

    A heart for dogs

    One study looked at 421 adults who’d had heart attacks. A year later, dog owners were much more likely to still be alive than were those who did not own dogs, regardless of the severity of the heart attack.

    Source: National Institutes of Health

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Lightening The Load: Dividing Household Chores

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of couple ready to clean.

    Chores are a part of daily life for families. And, the way they are divided can have a big impact on your family relationships. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that sharing household chores was among the top three things that make a marriage work.

    This can be easier said than done in many households. Many families have to work outside the home, attend kids’ activities and deal with other demands every day. With all these things taking up time, chores may be an additional source of stress.

    First, have a good talk

    It’s easy to get angry or upset with someone for not doing enough chores.

    But before you do this, stop and think. Did you clearly tell them when and how you wanted this chore done? Have they been busy with other activities?

    Be kind and respectful when talking about chores; then you may find that the other person is more willing to take part. Try to look at things from their perspective. Perhaps they’ve been overwhelmed with other things or simply didn’t know that something needed to be done. Or, if you feel like you’ve been doing most of the work, ask if others can help take some things off your plate. Be specific with which chores you would like them to do and when.

    Get the kids involved

    Even small children can do chores. Toddlers can pick up toys and help make their beds. Preschool kids can help clean up spills, feed a pet and even take their laundry to the hamper. Older children may be able to wash dishes, and do laundry and fold clothes.

    Younger children often do well with a chore list so they know what is expected of them. If they can’t read yet, use pictures and stickers.

    Set aside a few minutes

    One strategy that works for many families is finding just 10 or 15 minutes a day to do some basic chores. This can be anything that needs to be done. Examples include picking up and putting things away, cleaning a bathroom or running the vacuum. You can even set a timer so it doesn’t feel so overwhelming. Make it fun by turning on music while you clean. Or, make it a “race” with little ones: who can pick up their room first? When the time is up, everyone can feel good about helping out around the house.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine