http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/460166/resolutions_for_motherdaughter_new.html?cat=5
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I don’t know what happened to the healthy lifestyle I used to stick to, but I think it got lost somewhere in the hectic whirlwind of being a working, single mother. However, now, more than ever, I need to get back to eating vegetables and exercising since my daughter is faithfully following my slothful example.
The good news is that it’s easier to make lifestyle changes when you have a buddy and I can kill two birds with one stone by sharing healthy experiences with my daughter. Not only will we both become healthier, but we can spend time together and motivate each other.
Rather than making well-meaning resolutions that will be broken before you start, why not try these eight activities with your daughter to have a healthier year in 2008?
Get moving together every day
You can do something as simple as walking every day after dinner or going for an afternoon bike ride. If your daughter isn’t walking yet, strap her into the baby carriage or invest in a bicycle stroller. Not only will you entertain your bored child, you will spend quality time together and you may even lose some weight. For a change of pace you can stroll through the park, walk around downtown or window shop at the mall (just be sure you walk at a steady pace without stopping for 20 minutes at a time to get the maximum aerobic benefits.)
Sign up for an exercise class together.
Don’t settle for watching her practice ballet or fly on the uneven bars at gymnastics (although these activities are great and she should continue doing them). Find something you both enjoy. My daughter is interested in martial arts and I know some dojos have classes for both adults and kids. You may even be able to start out in a class together, but don’t be surprised when your daughter zips ahead of you in skills. When she does, let her move on at her own pace, but continue going to your own class. Not only will you make new adult friends, but you and your daughter will have something special in common.
Cook together
My daughter is a picky eater and it’s almost impossible to get her to eat vegetables – unless she prepares them herself. One of her favorites is my famous corn casserole which you can make together.
Here’s my recipe: Have your daughter pour two cans of creamed corn and two cans of regular corn into a large casserole dish. Next, add about one cup of grated cheddar cheese. You may want to supervise the grating to make sure that little ones don’t cut their fingers, but most kids love watching the sold chunk of cheese transform into crumbles. In a separate bowl, help your daughter break open two eggs. If a few egg shells fall in, just fish them out before beating them. Pour that into your casserole and stir it all together. You can also add some chopped onion or green pepper if you want some extra flavoring. Finally, get out a box of saltines and crush about two cups of them on top. You child will have a blast doing this part. Melt some butter in the microwave (make sure you let your child push the buttons to program it) and carefully drizzle that on top. Put the whole thing in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes and take it to your next potluck gathering. You child will be thrilled to hear people praising this delicious creation that she helped make.
De-stress together
Watch your favorite chick flick. I’ll admit that when they are in pre-school this can be a little challenging, but I enjoyed reliving my childhood through such timeless favorites as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Now that she’s in second grade, it’s even more fun as she is beginning to graduate to mild comedies like Look Who’s Talking and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In addition to busting stress, watching movies together allows you to explore topics with your child like the meaning of family, making good choices, how to handle hard times and more.
There are many ways you can show your child the joys of vegging out in a healthy way. Take her to your favorite bookstore and introduce her to the joys of reading. Most of them have an area for kids to play in and coffee shops for you to relax in even if you don’t actually buy a book. Use the time to find out what’s going on in her life and share a personal story or experience. Have a girls’ night where you give each other facials and pedicures while all the men in the family are gone. Listen to some classical music together. Studies show that classical music is good for children’s brains. Get your little baby Einstein started early.
Take her to a health screening
We’re not talking about bringing her in for your annual pap smear, but why not take her when you get checked for your new glasses? My daughter was fascinated with all the gadgets our optometrist used to peer into my retina and test my vision. Who knows? It may even have sparked her curiosity to work in the health field one day. And don’t forget to keep her up to date on her own immunizations and screenings. Learn what screening tests and immunizations you both need at http://www.4woman.gov/tools/#screenings.
Sing together
When my daughter was a preschooler, I nurtured her fascination with music from the Disney princess movies by singing these songs with her almost every night as part of her bed time routine. Recent studies have shown that music develops the left side of the brain involved with processing language. There is also a link between music and “spatial intelligence,” the ability to perceive things accurately. This kind of intelligence is critical for activities from packing a book bag to solving advanced mathematics problems. You can find the lyrics for almost every song, ranging from popular childhood favorites like Three Blind Mice to today’s latest hits free online. Try lyrics.com for your favorites.
Take a safety quiz together
My daughter isn’t quite ready for this yet, but if yours is an adolescent, visit http://www.girlshealth.gov/safety/index.htm for quizzes on safety in relationships, in cyberspace and on the street. Girls can find out the definition of cyberbullying, why some people are violent and how to get out of an unhealthy relationship by taking quizzes and reading stories geared toward teens. If you do it together, you can discuss specific relationships with your child, ask pertinent questions and listen to her concerns.
Visit a a healthy website for women
Try http://www.4woman.gov/, which was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health. You can discover updates to clinical trials, health highlights for the week and daily health tips. Your daughter can click on http://www.4girls.gov and go to a website focusing on health concerns for adolescents ranging from the safety site mentioned above to teen topics such as body, fitness, peer pressure, suicide, self-esteem, nutrition, bullying, relationships or drugs and alcohol. The interactive, user-friend format will be attractive to today’s My Space generation.
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