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Kids' Healthy Resolutions

The beginning of a new year is a good time to help children make their own health resolutions.

This is the time of year children see their parents making resolutions for improving their health. Children can also set goals for better health and they are more likely to be successful if they are involved in the process, says Dr. Tracy Lower, associate professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield and member of the St. John’s Children’s Hospital physician staff. She explains some resolutions children can make and accomplish.

SOUND BITE: ". . . with preschoolers, brushing teeth twice a day, washing hands before and after the bathroom and watching for dogs – those are big issues. For school age kids, we see a lot of just the things we always recommend for these kids. Wearing a helmet when bicycling, seatbelts in the car, eating fruits, vegetables and things like that."

Dr. Lower says it is very important for parents to stress the benefits of eating healthy to help avoid obesity and health problems associated with it. She also urges parents to stress the value of exercise for children by encouraging them to participate in a sport or activity they enjoy. For teenagers, she advises helping them maintain self-esteem and develop good social behaviors.

SOUND BITE: "We want to discourage them from talking badly about themselves or being negative about themselves. Also, dealing with anger and stress in a constructive way is an important thing that they can choose to do at that age. Trying to resist drugs, alcohol and other teenage behaviors that can be risky is another thing that can be encouraged with adolescents."

Dr. Lower says improving children's health habits and behaviors often takes time, but when the child in involved in the decision making process, they have more motivation to carry through. If children have serious health or behavior problems, they need to see their pediatrician or family doctor.