Children’s Wellness September 2023 | futureofpersonalhealth.com
An independent supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today
“Caring for the whole child is at the core of Easterseals’ early childhood development programs.”
“Precision medicine for childhood cancer has lagged behind its adult counterpart.”
Kendra E. Davenport, President and CEO, Easterseals
Midhat Farooqi, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Molecular Oncology, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Page 02
Page 03
What Families Can Do to Promote Healthy Minds Our mental health is constantly impacted by what happens around us, in both good and bad ways.
T
he more proactive we are about addressing our mental health, the more resilient we can be at navigating difficult situations throughout our lives. Help your family maintain a healthy mind and build resiliency by: Being aware Knowing about current events in your child’s life and any big changes they are going through socially, academically, emotionally, or physically can help you be more engaged in supporting their mental health and addressing mental health challenges as they arise. Talking to your child To make mental health a priority and a normal part of your family’s daily life, be sure to have regular family conversations about it. You can talk through your children’s feelings or concerns, things happening at school or with friends, or how current events are impacting them. You can also try to share your own feelings, challenges, @futureofpersonalhealth
and what is happening in your life. These conversations help you learn how your child is doing emotionally, build their ability to cope with life’s stresses, and provide them with additional help if and when they need it. Talking about mental health with your kids shows them that their feelings matter, that they are not alone, and that they are loved and supported. It also helps you build trust, allows your child to know you better, and shows them that you are a relatable person who sometimes struggles, too. When you have these mental health discussions, make sure they’re focused, distraction-free, and routinely scheduled. Prioritizing healthy lifestyles Living a healthy lifestyle helps maintain good mental health and improves overall well-being. Small changes can make a big difference. It is never too late to commit to having a healthy mind and body! Maintain your family’s mental health and well-being by:
@MediaplanetUSA
• Eating meals together. Try to practice a healthy diet consisting of a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, and lean protein. Limit foods high in transfat and added sugars. • Exercising regularly. A fun family challenge could be to see who can get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week. • Limiting screen time. Decide as a family how much time a day is OK for everyone, including parents, to be on their devices outside of work or school. • Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. Kids ages 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep, teenagers need 8-10 hours, and adults need 7-9 hours a night. As a family, agree to establish a consistent bedtime. Remove all devices from bedrooms. • Managing your stress. Start by identifying what in your life is causing you stress and try to figure out healthy ways to manage it. Written by National PTA
Contact information: US.editorial@mediaplanet.com
Publisher Joanna Tronina Managing Director Julia Colavecchia Production Manager Taylor Daniels Lead Editor Dustin Brennan All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.
Please recycle