WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
“Sufficient
sleep is not a luxury – it is a necessity – and should be thought of as a vital
sign of good health.”
--Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS, Director
Division of Adult and Community Health
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion
Did you know…Summer Solstice – the longest day of
the year - is June 21st? Here are some fun ideas for things to do with your
extra daylight:
- Read another book with your kids.
- Spend some time dreaming with your family.
- Make a new recipe together.
- Take an extra lap around the block before the bugs bite.
- Write down a new goal for your family’s health.
Our “Growing Healthy Kids” movement is giving
parents the resources to, you guessed it, grow healthy kids (and families). Here are five of my favorite Summer Solstice tips for parents:
- Make eating fun - have dinner together at least 4 nights a week.
- Let the kids play with their food.
- Show your kids how to use a small knife to cut vegetables, based on age appropriateness.
- Drink 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water a day (keep a family journal for a week as a check).
- Get enough sleep every night:
- Adults: 7-9 hours
- Adolescents 10-17 years old: 8.5-9.5 hours
- Children 5-10 years old: 10-11 hours
- Children 3-5 years old: 11-13 hours
- Toddlers 1-3 years old: 12-14 hours
- Infants 3-11 months old: 14-15 hours
- Infants Birth-2 months old: 12-18 hours
My advice for the Summer Solstice?
- Sing your favorite songs at the top of your lungs.
- Decorate your dining table with fresh flowers.
- Dance in your back yard by the light of the full moon.
Remember, as parents, it is our job to ensure that we teach our kids about
the importance of a good night’s sleep. Did
you know that not getting enough sleep has been shown to prevent people from
losing weight? Be a good parent. Lead by example. Dance in the moonlight and celebrate the
summer solstice. Then sleep!
In gratitude,
Nancy Heinrich
Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
The movement to reverse, halt, and prevent childhood obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
