Walking your Family to Physical and Emotional Health

As spring approaches with warmer weather, spring fever seems to hit our children. Teachers know kids will be more active and eager to get out of school. Parents will notice this restlessness at home. This is the perfect time to get involved with your children. Find time in the evenings to spend with your children. The days are growing longer and one activity that will help make your family healthier is taking a walk after dinner. Taking a walk with your children is a wonderful way to be involved. You are helping your child exercise and be more physically healthy, but you are also having a time to help your child be more emotionally healthy. Talk about your child's day. Ask questions such as "Tell me one thing that made you smile today" or "Tell me one thing that made you frown today." These questions will help you learn more about your child's day and give you an opportunity to help your child deal with frustrations they may have had. You can build your relationship with your child creating a positive, trusting atmosphere in which your child and you learn to communicate. Parents are the number one influence in their children's lives and Talking to Your Child is one activity that should never be forgotten. Open communication, giving your child your knowledge, listening to your child, and just being together are vitally important to helping your child grow up.