Keeping our kids healthy and happy is generally at the forefront of everything we do as parents, caretakers, teachers, family members and as anyone else who plays a significant role in the life of a child. We rely heavily on our chosen professionals to keep us in the loop about what needs to be done to meet health requirements at each stage of development and in this way they serve as crucial resources. Implementing a healthy lifestyle early on will allow for the best long term results for your family!
“Getting your children involved in physical activities is vital to their health,” emphasizes Colleen Granger, Director of Youth Services at Lincoln Racquet Club. “There is an obesity epidemic affecting our society, including our children. There are studies that state parents are expected to outlive their children, so it is your responsibility as a parent to deter your children from following this trend. Start them out young and keep them moving! When you are active and living in a healthy way it is reflected in all aspects of your life. You are increasing your odds of a longer and better quality of life as well as being happier, more patient, and better able to handle everyday stressors. These qualities are among those that make us better parents and role models. Living a healthy and active lifestyle yourself also provides those same benefits for your children.”
She continues, “LRC offers many ways for children to stay active. During the school year we offer several classes created specifically for our members from preschool to age 11. Classes include Tumbling, Yoga, Boot Camp, PE 101, Ballet, Racquetball, Dance and Kickboxing. We also offer group swim lessons and swim conditioning which covers all levels from beginner to those ready to compete with swim team over the summer. Also throughout the year we offer several specialty clinics and workshops such as Volleyball, Basketball and Yoga as well as our fun and active camps during winter and spring break. Summer programming includes group swim lessons and our LRC Racers swim team, as well as 11 weeks of ‘Kids of Summer’ Day Camps packed full of fun activities based on the theme of the week that include swimming, crafts and field trips!”
Steve Holzwarth, owner of the Profile® by Sanford franchise in Lincoln located at 70th and Pioneers, also explains, “Physical activity offers many benefits, the main benefit is that it develops movement as part of lifestyle. All people need to be active throughout all phases of life, more so in childhood and adolescence. Exercise is often seen as a way to lose weight, whereas it truly is more of a means to keep the body healthy and strong to avoid injury and illness.
Overall, we want all people to recognize the dangers of inactivity. When children see their parents being inactive, they tend to follow suit. Likewise, when children engage in activities with their parents, they tend to lead active lifestyles themselves. Times have changed so that there are many enjoyable activities that lack movement; through television and computers, we can bring much of the world to us through the touch of a button. It is important to realize that too much inactivity does cause health problems over time. Too much sedentary behavior also forms that as a habit which becomes harder to break over time. Sometimes we all need to pause, realize how little we have been doing, and get up and move–for our sake and our kids’ sake.
Profile® is a comprehensive behavioral weight management program designed to improve nutrition, activity and lifestyle behaviors. Profile offers a TEEN specific plan which was developed to address the special nutritional needs and behavioral considerations of adolescents age 12-17. Profile can help teens and their families learn how to adopt healthy behaviors to last a lifetime. We focus on healthy choices, portion control, increased physical activity and decreased sedentary time, and promote lifestyle change through education and one-on-one consultations with a Certified Profile Coach.”
Sports are a great way for kids to stay active and offer physical, mental and social benefits. Whether you have a specific sport in mind for your child to try out or want to get them involved in a few, an affordable way to get all of the gear you’ll need is to find it gently used (or even new at a competitive price!) at Play It Again Sports. Diane Hesson, owner of Play It Again Sports, advises, “It’s important to get kids involved in sports and activities while they’re young so they can develop social skills and make exercise part of their daily routine. There are plenty of sports out there to try out and we’re there to help make that happen without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering an extensive inventory of items, both new and used, and we welcome trade-ins any time during our store hours. It’s beneficial for kids to experience several different sporting activities to find out for themselves what they really like and what they don’t care for—learning something new, overcoming adversity and growing from it, and taking on a challenge are really important facets of life for kids to be exposed to. Our sales staff are always prepared to answer any questions you may have as well as to assist you with properly fitting children with the right equipment.”
Healthy babies grow into healthy kids, so it’s important to make sure that safety first and good health are at the forefront from the very beginning, whether at home or on-the-go. Kid’s Stuff Superstore is a wonderful source for the best (and safest!) cutting-edge products on the market including nursery items, baby gear and travel accessories, bath and baby care, feeding and nursing equipment, and even toys! As the largest independent baby and children’s specialty stores in the Midwest, just as their name states they are the “kid’s stuff” experts and are a wonderful resource for parents who have questions or just want to ensure they are making informed decisions for their little ones.
“Our stores truly provide a one stop shopping experience, with a large selection of unique merchandise and 35,000 feet of showroom space our customers are able to actually see and evaluate items before making the final decision,” explains Karla Pederson, owner of Kid’s Stuff Superstore. “Our trained staff is always available to walk you through and answer all of your questions, helping you be assured you made the right decision with your purchase. Additionally, eChildstore.com is the online shopping website for Kids Stuff Superstore and there you’ll find one of the largest selections of online products offered anywhere. Content and products are continuously added to make our website a great resource for parents and parents to-be. We believe our products, service and website set us apart and we take pride in being an excellent resource for product recommendations that will keep children healthy, happy and safe while they grow and develop.”
For kids who face difficult obstacles affecting their health and wellness, an overall assessment can be a very valuable tool in determining how best to move forward. “When we work with youth in our CARF-accredited dual diagnosis outpatient program, we begin with a comprehensive assessment,” explains Brenda Rohren, Certified EMDR Therapist and President of Behavioral Health Resources, LLC. “This involves obtaining information from the referral source, parent(s), primary care physicians, school counselors and teachers, and past treatment records. The assessment focuses on mental health, physical health, substance use, trauma, and other areas. The current health and wellness is evaluated and a treatment plan developed with the youth and parent(s) with a goal of improving overall functioning and life satisfaction.
Parents and teachers may notice behavioral problems that increase over time and are very challenging. They care about the youth, but may not be able to discern the cause of the negative behaviors. Because it’s often difficult to distinguish between symptoms of mental health issues and substance use, our outpatient program focuses on assessment of both as well as trauma and adverse life events that may be contributing factors. We offer a free consult session so that the youth (ages 13 and older) and parent(s) can meet the therapist and review the presenting issues, level of motivation for change, and the therapist’s credentials and areas of expertise. The initial comprehensive assessment is the first step in helping the family to find relief, some answers, and a direction for positive change.”
It’s a continuing endeavor to stay on top of keeping our kids healthy, especially where we find ourselves at in terms of health as a society in 2015, and most of all it’s important to model the behavior ourselves. We are truly lucky to live in one of the healthiest cities in the U.S., where we are surrounded with a culture that values health and wellness. Largely because of this we have access to plenty of wonderful local resources to utilize in keeping our kids healthy so that they can grow to their full potential, so there’s always a helping hand available when needed. Here’s to a healthy 2015 for all, young and old!