When kids get positive reinforcement that they are doing a great job and becoming fit and healthy in the process, “sweating the little things” will no longer matter.

When we, as adults, workout, the idea is to burn calories, increase our endurance, or just stay fit and healthy, and we will, of course, break a sweat.  So when did the concept of sweating become a negative connotation for kids.  When did “Coach, I’m sweating, I have to stop,” become the end of the workout.  Here’s our response, “Hey, little man, now that you’re sweating we are going to play even more.”

Sweating is a good thing, and when we show kids that, then they will be more apt to want to not only work harder but want to sweat (like us).  They will mirror our every move.  If we are sitting on the couch with a bag of potato chips and a soda, then it’s quite obvious why sweating has a negative connotation. But if we go for a run, come back and pronounce to our kids, “I had a great workout, look at how much I’m sweating,” kids are going to want to sweat as well.

Share with us and our readers your thoughts on how to get your children to sweat or workout.

-Fitbound

As the demand for healthier menu options has grown across a wider audience, more restaurants at a variety of price points have responded by offering foods made with fresh ingredients, at prices that won’t hurt the family budget. This trend also means that consumers have to be savvy about where – and what – they’re eating. What’s presented as healthy isn’t always the best choice. The best defense here is a good offense. Becoming informed about the dishes you’re likely to pick and the restaurants you frequently visit will allow you to make the right choices.

There are a few key things to look for when taking the family out for a meal:

* Fresh ingredients. These can be particularly hard to come by in a restaurant setting, so it’s good to find restaurants that have a mission to serve fresh foods. Some restaurants, like Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, make the effort to ensure that the food they offer on their salad bar and the ingredients in their freshly prepared foods come straight from the farm to the restaurant kitchen, with as little transit time as possible in between. That means that the food not only tastes better, it’s also in optimal condition for healthy eating.

* A wide variety of options. Families have to cater to a lot of very different taste preferences, which can make dining out a challenge. And we all know it can be a challenge to get kids to choose healthy foods over junk food. By going out together to a restaurant that has a buffet format coupled with freshly-made wholesome foods, you’ll be able to let everyone pick out what’s to their taste with the peace of mind that they’re eating well.

* Know nutrition. Make it a point to talk to your family about healthy ingredients and how they make a difference in their lives. It’s also useful to explain calories – how many go into a healthy diet, what’s too little and what’s too much – and give kids examples of how many calories are in a variety of prepared foods. Some restaurant websites, like that of Souplantation, make it easy to find out exactly what the nutritional values are in each item they serve. Having a realistic view of what goes into the food you eat plays a big role in making healthy choices when eating out. By knowing what to look for, it’s easier to make smart choices at restaurants that are wallet-friendly, disproving the myth that it costs a lot to eat the healthiest foods. And when you find a place that meets the requirements of healthy, affordable and fresh, spread the word to friends. Whether you go out on a multi-family lunch date or give restaurant gift cards, you’ll be sharing smart ways to stay healthy with your family and friends.

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Yet one thing everyone agrees on is that the sooner a child’s autism is diagnosed, the sooner that child can get the help he or she needs.

The nation’s fastest-growing developmental disorder, autism affects an estimated one in every 110 children. With such a high incidence rate, many parents may agonize over any developmental delays, wondering if what they see is just the normal variances in children’s development rates – or an indication of a more serious disorder.

Dr. Rebecca Landa, head of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, recommends concerned parents act early, rather than waiting to see if developmental delays resolve themselves. Early intervention can have a big impact on the development of children with autism.

“Our research suggests that the ‘wait and see’ method, which is often recommended to concerned parents, could lead to missed opportunities for early intervention,” Dr. Landa says. “By identifying these early signs of autism and acting early, we are providing toddlers with tools and skills to increase social opportunities throughout their lifetime and positioning them to have the best possible outcomes.”

Researchers at the Institute have recently made major advances that now allow the signs of autism to be detected in children as young as age 1. Parents concerned about their child’s developmental delays should look for these early warning signs:

* Little or no attempt to attract attention – It’s typical for infants and toddlers to seek the attention of those around them. Attention-seeking tactics can range from making silly facial expressions, moving their limbs and making babbling sounds in babies younger than 1, to talking and acting silly in children older than 12 months. Children who don’t attempt to attract the attention of others in these ways could be at risk for autism.

* Poor eye contact – By the time they’re 2 months old, infants can make direct eye contact with an adult. Children who later develop autism often avoid making eye contact and are more interested in staring at objects or other facial features such as the mouth.

* Poor or no response to own name – By 6 months, typical children will respond when an adult calls their name. Parents should be concerned if their child infrequently or inconsistently responds to his name.

* Delayed speech/babbling – Delayed babbling and then delayed spoken language is one of the most recognizable signs that a child’s development is delayed. Children should be babbling as young as 6 months.

* Doesn’t mimic facial expressions – As early as 2 months old, babies mimic the facial expressions of others, smiling when someone smiles at them. When a baby does not voluntarily reciprocate a parent’s smile, it’s a red flag for autism.

* Engages in unusual play – Unusual play is another red flag. For example, a child might spin, flick or line up toys and objects in a purposeless, repetitive way. This can become more noticeable as children reach 2 or 3 years old.

* Unusual body movements – Parents can often easily identify differences in how a child moves. Children with autism might repeatedly stiffen their arms or legs, flap their hands or arms, twist their wrists or move in other unusual ways.

* Repetitive language – Children with autism may engage in repetitive language. These children may be able to recite the ABCs before they can make word combinations.

* Does not express desire to share interests – At 9 to 12 months old, and in some cases earlier, children want to show or share their interests with others. They might point to something and wait for a parent to react, or hold up a toy to see and comment on it. A child with autism may not attempt to engage socially in this way.

* Disinterested in imitating others – Babies and toddlers love to imitate the actions of others; it’s how they learn to laugh, eat and play. An early warning sign of autism is often a child’s disinterest in imitating others. A child might occasionally mimic others, but more often observes rather than imitates.

To learn more about early detection research, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.

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“Preventing or reducing allergy symptoms is entirely possible if you avoid your allergy triggers and work with your doctor to treat the symptoms,” says Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann, mother, pediatrician and author.

“No parent wants to keep an active child indoors when the sun is shining and everyone is outside,” Altmann says. “And, no parent wants to see her child feeling miserable. There are plenty of ways to help your children enjoy the summer months and still reduce allergy symptoms like sneezing and itchy, runny noses.”

“Dr. Tanya,” as she is known on the “Today” show and through her blog, provides the following tips to help your children keep allergy symptoms at bay so they’ll be outside in no time.

* During the peak allergy season, enjoy indoor activities, such as museums, libraries or indoor play areas.

* Runny noses can become sore very quickly, so use a lotioned tissue like Puffs Plus with Lotion to help prevent and reduce tenderness. In addition to soothing your children’s noses, teach them to blow their noses correctly. Ask your child to blow as if they were blowing out a candle through their nose with their mouth closed. This visual will help your child to remember to blow gently, which is key.

* Keep your car and home windows closed to help keep airborne pollens away.

* Minimize playtime outside early in the day when pollen counts are highest. Have your children plan indoor activities during the earlier hours, and schedule any outdoor sporting activities later in the day.

* Teach your children to wash their hands and faces after playing outside. Many experts advise teaching children to sing the ABC song, or “Row Your Boat” to help them understand how long they need to keep the soap and water on their hands to get them thoroughly cleaned. You can also have them take a shower – washing their hair – and put on clean clothes after coming in from the outdoors. This is especially important to do before bedtime.

* If your child has been diagnosed with specific allergies, consider placing a High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (HEPA) air filter in their bedroom to help them sleep more comfortably at night.

With your children’s allergy symptoms prevented or reduced, you and your children can get outside and enjoy the warm temperatures in the great outdoors. For additional helpful advice on allergies and prevention tips, visit www.puffs.com.

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1.Don’t feed a baby every time they cry.  Often times they are crying and it will have nothing to do with their hunger.

2.Three to Four ounces of milk is plenty.  You’re overfeeding your infant with six to eight ounces of milk.

3. A chubby baby is not necessarily a healthy baby.  They could already be overweight.

Toddler/Young Children

1. Abolish the clean plate club.  Allow kids to stop when they have had enough food.  This doesn’t mean you have to let them skip dinner because they don’t like broccoli then allow them to head right for the ice cream or candy.

2. Stop rewarding good behavior with bad food.  If you’re good you can have McDonald’s.  That’s like saying if you behave we will help you clog your arteries.

3. Be conscious of what you are serving your child for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Older Children

1. Make eating right a family affair. Don’t single out one child because they are overweight.

2. Instead of demanding they eat an apple and not a twinkie, ask them to try this new snack you found.

3. Children imitate your actions.  If you tell them to go get some exercise, and you’re sitting on the couch eating chips, they will be less likely to embrace going to work out.  Make it a group activity, go for a walk, ride a bike, or go on a hike.

4. Eliminate excessive TV.  Your child is more likely to be overweight if they watch TV or play video game for over 2 hours a day. Be part of the outside until dark club ( they have to be outside and active until it’s dark).

5. Educate them and have them own their actions.  If you forbid them from eating something they will eat it.  Give them the information and let them own their decision.  If they want to drink soda, give them the facts.  1 can a day=15 pounds of weight a year.

GOL PROGRAMS