family Archives - Skyline Newspaper

By Skyline Newspaper September 21, 2017 6 years 722 words

Fall Fitness Ideas To Keep Your Family On Track This Season

Now that the weather is cooling down and the kids are heading back to school, it may be harder to find time to get your daily dose of exercise — especially …

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Now that the weather is cooling down and the kids are heading back to school, it may be harder to find time to get your daily dose of exercise — especially once the days start getting shorter again. But by encouraging physical activity early on, your kids will embrace fitness as a lifelong habit. Just because your family is a little busier these days doesn’t mean you have to give up a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of our favorite fitness tips that’ll make the seasonal transition more active and more fun.

Hiking

Hiking is the number one activity to partake in while camping, but you don’t have to set up a tent to do it. If you live an area that boasts beautiful fall foliage, there’s no better way to appreciate it than a family hike. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that this year will be particularly perfect for leaf-peeping. Research nature trails in nearby towns and plan a weekend day to take a hike and look at the leaves. You can even take a day trip or a long weekend to the East Coast or somewhere in the Midwest to disconnect from technology and take in the vibrant colors the season brings.

Biking

Spring and summer may be more associated with bicycle weather, but those golden fall days can be ideal for hopping on your bike. People who participate in outdoor activities spend over $10 billion a year on bicycling gear and accessories, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to embrace cycling. Before the ground freezes, take your bicycles out for a spin around the neighborhood or through town. Just make sure to talk to your kids about safe bicycling practices at length first.

Family Walks

Even if your family isn’t particularly athletic, you can still enjoy everything fall has to offer and get some great exercise. There’s plenty of time to walk around on Halloween night when you take your kids trick-or-treating, but why not take advantage of the beautiful autumn weather all season long, too? Take a walk around the block after dinner or make walking to the park part of your Saturday morning routine. If you have dogs, this can be a great way to keep them active and encourage everyone to participate. To keep things interesting, you can play “I Spy” games or create mini-scavenger hunts along the way. This can also teach your kids about nature at the same time they’re getting their physical activity!

Turn Workouts Into Games

As mentioned above, you can incorporate small games into your physical activities — or you can make physical activities into games themselves. You can use ordinary playing cards to encourage the kids to work out (drawing the eight of spades, for example, might mean everyone needs to do eight crunches). You can turn this into a friendly competition or even use it to pass the time during TV commercials. There are even apps that can help you to throw a dance party right in your own living room. Whether you’re stuck indoors on a rainy day or just want to break up the monotony in the backyard, you can let your kids know that working out doesn’t have to be boring.

Ditch the Gym

This advice may not seem sound on the surface, but this doesn’t mean you should always work out at home. Instead, look for specialized fitness centers that will appeal to the entire family. Roller rinks, skating rinks, recreational centers, climbing wall facilities, and indoor trampoline centers can allow your family to get a ton of exercise without realizing it. They’ll be too busy having fun! These kinds of facilities are popping up all over, so if you have some in your area, take advantage. You can even let the kids bring a friend to double the fun.

It’s not always easy to start a new fitness routine from scratch, especially if your kids are reluctant to get off the couch in the colder months. But by making exercise more accessible and exciting, you can help lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. When both you and your children are making better choices, you’ll be able to enjoy your time together and truly appreciate the changing seasons.

By Skyline Newspaper September 21, 2017 6 years 553 words

The Ongoing Battle Between Children and Dentists: What Can Be Done?

Dental care is one of the most important aspects of life. As a parent, one of your major responsibilities is to keep your children’s teeth healthy and strong for as long …

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Dental care is one of the most important aspects of life.

As a parent, one of your major responsibilities is to keep your children’s teeth healthy and strong for as long as you can until it’s time for them to grow up and care for themselves. Hopefully, after years of proper dental care, your kids will develop an appreciation of their own for having healthy teeth.

There aren’t too many kids in the U.S. or on planet earth, for that matter, that actually enjoy going to the dentist. Because children are afraid of those bi-annual trips to the dentist, it’s up to you as parents to help them get over their fears of dental care.

Teach Your Kids About Proper Dental Hygiene

The best way to get relinquish their fears of the dentist is to teach them how to properly take care of their teeth in the first place. If your child has poor teeth, they will likely need major dental procedures performed every time they go to the dentist. That would make anyone fear the dentist. Ensuring that your kids are taking care of their teeth from an early age, however, will result in seamless trips to the dentist that end with a bright smile and possibly a lollypop!

Beware of What Foods and Drinks You’re Letting Your Kids Consume

When it comes to keeping your kids’ teeth strong and avoiding these major procedures, consider rewarding your kids for excellent dental hygiene; but only buy food and drink products that won’t cause too much damage (avoid soda, energy drinks, potato chips, and candy). Also, teach them proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing habits, and be careful about how you talk to your kids about dental care — especially in relation to tooth decay.

“Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease of childhood,” said Courtney Chinn, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in New York City and associate professor at New York University College of Dentistry. “[Tooth decay is] five to eight times more common than asthma. It can interfere with a child’s ability to eat, sleep, speak properly, learn, or pay attention in school.”

Consult With Dental Professionals

If your kids are in need of serious dental help, your only option is to visit a trusted family dentist. If your kids are terrified of visiting the dentist, consider dental sedation treatment methods at first until they are more comfortable with each visit. As dental professionals have gained advanced training in the proper ways to employ and monitor the use of pediatric dental sedation, its practice has become much more widespread. Currently, there are approximately 250,000 pediatric dental sedations performed each year.

According to My Republica, sedation dentistry is a great way to help kids deal with their fears of experiencing pain while at the dentist.

“NO2 is a harmless gas that patients are sometimes required to inhale during treatments. It is also known as laughing gas and it reduces mild pains that patients experience during dental treatments,” said Dr. Sneedha Mainali, a pediatric dentist and graduate from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

As long as you’re regularly monitoring your child’s dental care habits, visiting professional dentists, and not buying unhealthy products, your kids will likely have strong teeth and a happy smile for years.