Get Active! Get Outdoors for National Great Outdoors Month

Americans (yes, norteamericanos y sudamericanos) have always been passionate about our outdoor spaces, loving expansive views and wide open places. June is a time to celebrate the great outdoors by participating in a wide range of recreational activities. Outdoor recreation has ballooned into a $250 billion industry in the US. It was great to see a group of young boys packing up their gear into a big trailer today as I walked the dog. I asked if they were going camping.

"We are going to the desert to ride motorcross until Sunday." They looked happy, healthy, confident and fit - much better than sitting at home playing computer games and watching TV for a week. My daughter is going off to horse back riding camp with the Girl Scouts next week. She has to leave her cell phone and computer behind. Give your kids the gift of the love of nature and the physical world. Help fight obesity in children and build self esteem and a sense of well being and connectedness to something greater than themselves by getting them out of doors - even if it's just taking a walk with you and bird watching.

Thank you jakesmome's for use of photo.

Labels: family, fitness, kids, outdoor recreation, self esteem

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Give Kids A Smile! Thanks to the American Dental Association

Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) celebrates National Children's Dental Health Month to focus awareness on the need for good oral health for children. During this month, dental health speakers from the ADA are available to come to your school to talk to kids about teeth and their importance for overall health. The ADA website has a wealth of Fun Activity printable materials appropriate for elementary school kids for promoting dental health.

February 1st was Give Kids A Smile Day, the ADA and Colgate centerpiece of the Children's Dental Health Month. Almost 12,000 dentists and over 33,000 others participated to give restorative and preventive dental care to over 457,000 children nationwide.

Dental care begins as soon as teeth erupt. Talk to your pediatrician and dental professionals about oral health and dental care for your children today!

Thank you tinkernoono for use of photo.

Labels: dental health, kids, teeth

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Watch Your Eyes!

August is Eye Injury Prevention Month as well as Children's Eye Health and Safety Month.
Prevent Blindness America has a great website with UV Learning Center chock full of helpful hints on ways to protect ourselves and our children from an everyday exposure that can lead to blindness later in life - the sun. We all should wear sunglasses - even kids, but make sure to buy impact resistant lenses that block UV-A and UV-B rays. Wearing a hat with a brim can cut exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV) by 50%.

UV exposure may lead to eye problems over time:

• cataracts
• macular degeneration
• pterygium
• corneal sunburn

Thousands of children under age 5 injure their eyes each year - causing permanent visual damages and even blindness. Common causes? Misuse of toys, falls, misuse of everyday items like forks and knives, contact with household chemicals. Little ones need close supervision and protection from hazards. They are learning about their world by exploring. It is up to the adults in their lives to anticipate things that could harm them!

Prevent Sports Injuries to eyes with proper eye protection. In the US alone, 40,000 suffer eye injuries each year while playing sports. Most of this can be prevented with proper eye gear. Sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently with baseball, basketball and racquet sports. Regular glasses do not provide protection. Today, sports goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) are fashion statements. No matter what your age or your game, look good but watch those eyes!

Thank you zanzibar for use of Hello Kitty!

Labels: eyes, kids, prevention, protection, safety

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