Create “Family Glue” and Build a Healthy, Happy Home

1 session version

Create family glue: Care for yourself

♥ Doing well as a parent begins with feeling healthy.

Create family glue: Care for yourself

♥ Doing well as a parent begins with feeling healthy.

♥ Take good care of yourself by managing your time.

Create family glue: Care for yourself

♥ Doing well as a parent begins with feeling healthy.

♥ Take good care of yourself by managing your time.

♥ You teach by your example.

Create family glue: Care for yourself

♥ Doing well as a parent begins with feeling healthy.

♥ Take good care of yourself by managing your time.

♥ You teach by your example.

♥ Children learn what they live.

Create family glue: Bond with your child

♥ Children learn to trust and feel secure in happy homes.

♥ Children learn to trust and feel secure in happy homes.

♥ Know how your child is developing.

Create family glue: Bond with your child

♥ Children learn to trust and feel secure in happy homes.

♥ Know how your child is developing.

♥ Use routines and limits to help children feel safe and loved. ♥ Cuddle up and read storybooks

every day.♥ Set regular times for family meals,

fun times, baths, and bedtime.

Create family glue: Bond with your child

♥ Children learn to trust and feel secure in happy homes.

♥ Know how your child is developing.

♥ Use routines and limits to help children feel save and loved.

♥ Fix family problems by being a leader.

Create family glue: Bond with your child

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

♥ Offer healthy food regularly.

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

♥ Offer healthy food regularly.

♥ Give only two choices at a time.♥ The choices should both be OK with you.♥ It’s OK not to make everything a

choice.

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

♥ Offer healthy food regularly.

♥ Give only two choices at a time.

♥ Children have to learn to like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

♥ Offer healthy food regularly.

♥ Give only two choices at a time.

♥ Children have to learn to like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

♥ Avoid the “clean plate club.”♥ I decide what to eat;

my child decides how much.

Create family glue: Eat smart

♥ Eat meals together, without television.

♥ Offer healthy food regularly.

♥ Give only two choices at a time.

♥ Children have to learn to like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

♥ Avoid the “clean plate club.”

♥ Limit children’s exposure to food and beverage advertising.

If your child is overweight…

♥ Children come in all sizes.

♥ Don’t put a child on a diet without the supervision of a doctor or registered dietitian.

♥ Make food choices in your home as healthy as possible.

♥ Occasional treats are OK.

♥ Help your child grow into a healthy weight.

Avoid restrictions

♥ Restriction nearly always backfires and makes the problem worse.

♥ Avoid power struggles.

Create family glue: Snack smart

♥ Choose snacks from MyPlate.

♥ Keep kids’ portions, kid-size.

Create family glue: Snack smart

♥ Choose snacks from MyPlate.

♥ Keep kid portions, kid-size.

♥ Avoid using food for rewards, bribes, or comfort.

Create family glue: Move more, sit less

♥ Enjoy physical activity every day.

♥ Limit screen time.♥ No screen time for a child under 2 years.♥ No televisions or computers in bedrooms.

Active play for the entire family

There are many ways to play. Plan a time for active play each day 8 at least a few minutes. Aim for 60 minutes!

Active play for the entire family

Examples: Play catch

Jump rope

Swing a toy hoop

Bicycle together

Chase bubbles

Play volleyball or badminton

Play hopscotch

Walk, listen, and talk

Fly a kite

Be a cheerleader

Throw a flying disk

There are many ways to play. Plan a time for active play each day 8 at least a few minutes. Aim for 60 minutes!

Be the best “healthy habits” role model you can be.

Small changes over time can make a BIG difference.

You’re on your way!

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Home Is Where the Health Is graphics by Patti Ray, Graphic Artist

Carole Gnatuk, Ed.D., Extension Specialist for Child Development Rosie Allen, M. S., Gallatin County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Janet Kurzynske, Ph.D., R.D., Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition

January 2009; revised August 2012

Copyright © 2012, 2009, for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice.