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kids’ health
by Jane Bianchi
PUT A LID ON IT
Wearing a helmet while biking or skating
reduces the risk of head injury by up to
85%, yet more than half of Americans
never use one. Check your kid’s helmet for
a sticker from the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, which proves it meets
safety standards. Also make sure she
straps it on tightly every time.
Source: Consumer Reports National Research Center
right on
Don’t let the helmet
tip or slip backward—
the forehead
should be covered.
Talk positively about your body and
your daughter will feel better about
hers, says Dara Chadwick, author of
You’d Be So Pretty If… (Da Capo).
Try these three easy techniques to
be a good role model.
Compliment yourself
Say something upbeat
about your appearance
every day in front of your
daughter. A simple “I like
the way my hair looks”
will do the trick.
Skip the stand-up
Humor can be a defense
mechanism when you
feel insecure. It’s okay to
laugh together, but don’t
make your backside the
“butt” of every joke.
Watch your words
Resist the urge to tell
others they’re “thin” or
“skinny.” Instead,
congratulate them for
looking “healthy,”
“happy” or “energetic.”
Q
Is insect repellent
really safe for kids?
A
Yes, if it’s made with DEET,
picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus
(all ingredients approved by the
Environmental Protection Agency). But take
some precautions. “Too much of any chemical
can be toxic, so your child should inhale as little
as possible and use it sparingly,” says Alan
Greene, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Stanford
University School of Medicine in California. Apply
repellent only when outdoors, avoid contact with
open wounds and remind your kid
to wash his hands after using it.
FILL KIDS
WITH FIBER
DIET M.O.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics
wants kids to eat more
fiber. (It’s a great way
to prevent certain
cancers, digestive
problems and obesity.) TRY THIS
Children ages 9 to 13
require 26 to 31 grams
a day, while those 14
to 18 should get 26 to
38 grams. Here, how
to help your child
FIBER
meet the new goals. + 3 g + 3 g + 4 g
BOOST
—Krista Meyerhoff
To prevent diarrhea or constipation, increase fiber gradually—and encourage your kid to drink plenty of water.
Loves cereal for
breakfast
Is addicted to
mac and cheese
Eats a sandwich
for lunch every day
Snacks
constantly
Add 1/ cup
2
of raspberries
and half of a
banana, sliced.
Mix 1/ cup
2
chopped, cooked
broccoli into
the pot.
Swap out white
bread for slices of
whole wheat.
Stick a Fiber One
bar in his backpack
to munch on after
school.
+ 9 g
