 Physical
Activity
Your
child needs regular physical activity through play and sports to
stay fit. Good physical activity habits learned early can help your
child become an active and healthy adult. Adults who are physically
active are less likely to be overweight or to have heart disease,
high blood pressure, and other diseases. Adults and children should
try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of
the week.
- Encourage
your child to participate in physical activities, including sports.
- Plan
physical activities with family or friends; exercise is more fun
with others.
- Limit
the time your child spends watching TV to less than 2 hours per
day. Encourage going out to the playground, park, gym, or swimming
pool instead.
- Physical
activity should be fun. Don't make winning the only goal.
- Many
communities and schools offer exercise or sports programsfind
out what is available for your child.
Tobacco
Use
Using
tobacco in any form is harmful to you and can harm your child's
health. Tobacco usesmoking and/or chewing tobaccocauses cancer,
heart disease, and other serious illnesses. Children exposed
to tobacco smoke are more likely to get infections of the ears,
sinuses, and lungs. Smoking in the home may also cause lung
cancer in family members who do not smoke. Discourage your child
from using tobacco (in any form). If you smoke, ask your health
care provider about getting help quitting.
Safety
More children die from injuries than any other cause. The good
news is that most injuries can be prevented by following simple
safety guidelines. Talk with your health care provider about
ways to protect your child from injuries.
Read
the safety checklist list and check off each guideline that
your family already follows. Work on those you don't.
| Safety
Guidelines Checklist: All Ages |
Infants
and Young Children |
- Use
smoke detectors in your home. Change the batteries every
year and check once a month to see that they work.
- If
you have a gun in your home, make sure that the gun
and ammunition are locked up separately and kept out
of children's reach.
- Never
drive after drinking alcohol.
- Use
car safety belts at all times.
- Teach
your child traffic safety. Children under 9 years of
age need supervision when crossing streets.
- Teach
your children how and when to call 911.
- Learn
basic life-saving skills (CPR).
- Keep
a bottle of ipecac at home to treat poisoning. Talk
with a doctor or the local Poison Control Center before
using it. Post the number of the Poison Control Center
number near your telephone and write it in the space
under Important Information. Also, be sure to check
the expiration date on the bottle of ipecac to make
sure it is still good.
|
- Use
a car safety seat at all times until your child weighs
at least 40 pounds. Car seats must be properly secured
in the back seat, preferably in the middle.
- Keep
medicines, cleaning solutions and other dangerous substances
in childproof containers, locked up and out of reach
of children.
- Use
safety gates across stairways (top and bottom) and guards
on windows above the first floor.
- Keep
hot water heater temperatures below 120 degrees F.
- Keep
unused electrical outlets covered with plastic guards.
- Provide
constant supervision for babies using a baby walker.
Block the access to stairways and to objects that can
fall (such as lamps) or cause burns (such as stoves).
- Keep
objects and foods that can cause choking away from your
child, such as coins, balloons, small toy parts, hot
dogs (unmashed), peanuts, and hard candies.
- Use
fences that go all the way around pools and keep gates
to pools locked.
|
| Older
Children |
- Use
car safety belts at all times. Until children are tall
enough so that the lap belt stays on their hips and
the shoulder belt crosses their shoulder, they should
use a car booster seat.
- Make
sure your child wears a helmet while riding on a bicycle
or motorcycle.
- Make
sure your child uses protective equipment for rollerblading
and skateboarding (helmet, wrist and knee pads).
- Warn
your child of the dangers of using alcohol and drugs.
Many driving and sports-related injuries are caused
by the use of alcohol and drugs.
|
Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for
infants. Place sleeping infants on their backs to decrease the
risk of SIDS.
Child
Abuse
 Child
abuse is a hidden, serious problem. It can happen in any family.
The scars, both physical and emotional, can last for a lifetime.
Because children can't protect themselves, we must protect them.
Ways
to Prevent Child Abuse
-
Teach
your child not to let anyone touch his or her private parts.
-
Tell
your child to say "No" and run away from sexual touches.
-
Take
any reports by your child of physical or sexual abuse seriously.
-
Report
any abuse to your local or State child protection agency.
-
If
you feel angry and out of control, leave the room, take a
walk, take deep breaths, or count to 100. Don't drink alcohol
or take drugs. These can make your anger harder to control.
If you are afraid you might harm your child, get help NOW.
Call someone and ask for help. Talk with a friend or relative,
other parents, your clergy, or your health care provider.
Take time for yourself. Share childcare between parents, trade
babysitting with friends, or use day care.
As
Your Child Grows Up
As your child grows up, he or she will face many important health
issues such as alcohol, drugs, sexuality, AIDS, and birth control
.
Talk
to your health care provider about these important issueseven
while your child is still young.
Start
early to teach your child to make responsible choicesirresponsible
choices can have a lifelong effect. Your child needs you. Take
the time to "be there" for your childlistening, advising, and
supporting. The rewards will be well worth the effort.
Source:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), formerly
the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
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