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Health

The Benefits of Swimming: You and Your Child Should Get Along “Swimmingly”

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RNLI lifeguard offering safety advice

Did you know there are many benefits to swimming? Bucknell University lists 9 physical benefits:

  • Improved flexibility
  • Increased endurance
  • Muscular balance
  • Heart strength
  • Improved physique
  • Increased circulation
  • Rehabilitates muscle
  • Improves ease of weight management
  • Low impact on weight bearing joints

All these are important, but for your children swimming is just plain fun.  What are some reasons to get your kids in the water and create a healthy habit for life?

Safe from the start

Helping your child overcome their natural fear of water comes from a safe and stress-free introduction to swimming.  Seeking out your local Red Cross approved swimming program will give you an age appropriate entry point.  From babies to adults, there are first timer programs that will ease their way into swimming, by developing proper techniques and safety consciousness.  Their ability to react calmly to situations in the water, because of good basic safety skills, could save their life or the lives of others. [Read more…] about The Benefits of Swimming: You and Your Child Should Get Along “Swimmingly”

Originally posted on September 26, 2016 @ 2:28 pm

5 ways to avoid mommy burnout

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Raising kids is tough, round-the-clock job. But even if moms don’t get official leaves, we need to find “me time.” We deserve at least one hour for ourselves, and only ourselves. Here are some simple ways to escape from the tantrums and daily grind and to nurture our spirit.

1. Feed your mind. Moms need intellectual stimulation too, and we’re unlikely to get it from Dr. Seuss and Disney Playhouse. Read a good book, even if you can only take in a chapter a day. Bring it around with you so you can sneak in a couple of chapters while the baby naps or you sit in the dentist’s office.

2. Don’t give in to mommy frump. Even if you’re just at home, take an extra minute to fix your hair or wear your favorite lipstick or perfume. It’s not vanity: when you look good, you feel good, and that will boost your energy levels and your confidence. You don’t even need to spend a fortune on beauty products: these beauty tips for busy moms help you find new uses for makeup you already have.

3. Give yourself small treats. What are the little things that make you happy? Sparkly pens? Fresh flowers? Chocolate and mint ice cream? Make a list of 30 things that make you smile and go out and get them!!!

4. Drop out of the mompetition. You don’t have to be a perfect mom, and you shouldn’t be pressured to “match” what your co-parents are doing. Find your own parenting style and cut yourself some slack when you make mistakes. You may be a mom, but you’re still human.

5. Reconnect with friends. Not just the fellow soccer moms or playdate moms but friends who share your interests, offer stimulating conversation, or are just plain fun to hang out with. Organize a girl’s night out and don’t talk about the kids (it’s also a great chance to get dad more involved with the kids)

Originally posted on September 30, 2011 @ 4:47 pm

Uncontrolled Emotions – Health Risks

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depresseart1Depression, anger, lack of social skills and many more, these are classical signs of either underlying sickness or too much stress. Nope, you’re not crazy but might need help, who needs psychologists who charge tons of money. Get help from people like you who may have overcome these challenges themselves and have ample experience to help you through. From seasoned professionals who are well versed in such cases or merely people who want to help and have dealt with people like you, what’s important is to accept that something is wrong and that help is needed.
Acceptance is one of the most difficult things to do, for no one, and we mean no one wants to admit it outright they have issues. Pent up anger can get out of hand and easily turn violent without therapy and counseling. Have a child who seems out of the game most of the time, get help quick so you can get help on tips how you can help them develop into more lively kids.
Getting help is the first step, recovery is the ultimate goal which we all strive to attain. Learn how people overcome fear, anxiety and dread of things we take fore granted. Learn how your fears can be turned into positive approaches to the most common problems we face. The current economic slump isn’t helping either, lost your job, need help or simply want a sympathetic ear to ease away the pain. Depression is so hard to battle when you’re alone. You sacrifice your health, family and life for something that can be addresses with simple yet effective conversations. Get help, get on your way to a healthier you, inside and out!

Originally posted on July 20, 2011 @ 9:51 am

Parenting: Does It Reduce Or Increase Blood Pressure?

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nurse taking blood pressureI can already hear (and see) you reacting quite strongly to that question. It’s a no brainer right? Any parent knows that while children are precious, there are just times when they will make one’s blood pressure shoot up like a rocket crazy to go to outer space. I know this, and you know this; so what’s up with question that I am posing?

Earlier, I stumbled upon a very interesting study about how people actually benefit from being parents – in terms of lower blood pressure. Just like you probably, the first thought that entered my mind was: that’s a load of crock. Then again, when I read more, it seemed to make some sense.

In a nutshell, the study’s results bank on the fact that having children give us a more meaningful life and a sense of purpose. Even if you take children out of the equation, it is easy to understand how the simple idea of having a bigger perspective, a sense of purpose, can be beneficial to an individual.

Think about it, when you face some really stressful situation at work, does coming home to your children help you de-stress? Even the mere thought of going home to your babies makes a difference, right? Or let’s say you don’t work – that doesn’t mean you’re immune to the stresses of life. Having a kid, according to the study, helps you deal better with these things.

Some details about the study:

The conclusion comes from a study of 198 adults who were fitted with portable blood pressure monitors for 24 hours as they went about their normal lives. Researchers took into account other factors that can influence blood pressure, such as health, age, weight, exercise, employment and drinking history. The effect was stronger among women. Mothers had a 12 and seven-point difference in blood pressure compared with childless women.

Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who led the study at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, said: ‘While caring for children may include daily hassles, deriving a sense of meaning and purpose from life’s stress has been shown to be associated with better health outcomes.’ Many parents, who cast an envious eye over the apparently carefree lives of childless couples, may disagree.

You think? I can rattle off a long list of parents who would probably disagree. I think, though, that it really depends on the situation and the point in time. So what do you think – does being a parent reduce or increase blood pressure?

Originally posted on January 16, 2010 @ 9:17 am

Raising a Healthy Eater? What to Ask Yourself

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Kids Eating Pie

Does your kid prefer to flop in front of his PS2 with a bag of crisps or take a football and a bag of fruit to the park? Chances are your family falls somewhere between these two extremes, but with concern growing about childhood obesity and the associated increase in the incidence of type II diabetes, high cholesterol readings and later heart disease in our children, the time to introduce healthier lifestyle choices is now.

‘Parents need to recognise the importance of forming good habits in childhood, which will lead to a balanced and enjoyable diet later in life,’ advises Sarah Schenker, a dietitian with the British Nutrition Foundation. ‘Eating a wide variety of foods is the most important thing,’ she adds, ‘and a gentle, consistent approach usually results in a broader eating range.’ Here are some questions to ask yourself.

1. How does your child eat?
2. What would you pack for a picnic or school lunch?
3. How often does your child have sweets?
4. What does your child drink?
5. What do your child’s after-school activities most often include?
6. How much walking do you do as a family?

Photo via SEP Blog

Originally posted on July 10, 2010 @ 1:08 am