Hillary Clinton and Rep. John Dingell today introduced the Childrens First Health Act. If passed. it will make health care for children more affordable and help plug the whole of some 9 million children in the US that do not have health insurance. Politically I have not made any decisions yet for president and I know health care is reform is widely debated. I look at this issue not only from a parent but also from a child who had chronic health issues, was hospitalized, and visited the emergency room many many times. To me its a crime so many parents in the U.S. have to skimp on their childrens health care because of rising costs or just not being able to pay for it. Our children are our future. I don’t feel its a matter of whether we can afford it or not, its more of a matter that we can no longer afford not to.

Here is Hillary’s video where she explains her proposal and justification for the Children’s First Health Act. 

We all want our children to be happy and grow up to be emotionally well-adjusted and successful. Perhaps that is one of our biggest parenting challenges. Being a successful parent means taking the time to understand what our kids need in order to be self confident, happy, and living a life of well-being. Here are six tips to help you raise your children to the top levels of their needs.

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"How’s your diabetes doing, Mel?" And we remember her laughing reply, "Don’t worry about it, Dad. It’s all under control."

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By Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE

Anyone raising children has probably had at least one experience where meltdown is happening in your home and you are praying that nobody comes to the door because there is no telling what they would think you were doing to your children. While many homes experience this type of event infrequently, there are some homes where this is par for the course and the parents have no idea what to do to stop it. Maybe that is why some creative screenwriters came up with the television show Nanny 911.

The show seems to be the buzz around the water cooler as people discuss out of control children who hit, refuse to go to bed when told, slam doors, and basically are running the home while the parents anger and frustration level is increasing by the minute. Enter the Nanny to save the day. Even though most families do not have a Nanny that will come in and reveal the secrets of how to bring order to the home not to worry. George Doub and Flo Creighton, founders of Family Wellness: Survival Skills for Healthy Families have been teaching survival skills to families all over the world for years to assist them in their efforts to be healthy.

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Kids learn from their parents, so if their parents grumble and complain their kids will too. Are you tired of hearing all the grumbling and complaining around your house?  Do you ever find yourself just feeling down for no reason?  Maybe it’s time the family has a positive attitude adjustment.  It may take some time to get everyone in the swing of things, but before you know it everyone will be enjoying life more.

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If someone asked you to describe the heartbeat of your home, how would you describe it – erratic, racing, consistent and steady, or always changing and unpredictable? Just as it is important for your heart to beat in a steady rhythm, research shows it is also important for the heartbeat of your home to be steady and strong.

The Warning Signs We know that high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and being overweight are all factors that contribute to heart disease. Research has shown that an unhealthy heartbeat in the home can be caused by lack of communication, over commitment, high levels of conflict, in-laws with unrealistic expectations, an unhealthy family of origin, failure to balance home and work, out of control finances, and a variety of other things.

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By Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE

If someone asked you to describe the heartbeat of your home, how would you describe it – erratic, racing, consistent and steady, or always changing and unpredictable? Just as it is important for your heart to beat in a steady rhythm, research shows it is also important for the heartbeat of your home to be steady and strong.

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Easter candy is almost a tradition in most households. Every year moms try to decide what to give their kids for Easter. No doubt the kids would prefer candy and chocolate. However, it is a good idea to include some healhier alternatives. There are many healthy replacements for Easter candy baskets you can try. Here are a few tips and ideas.

Instead of chocolate or marshmallow candy, try filling or including with:

* Fruits and cookies. You can bake natural cookies at home that taste yummy.
* Mini boxes of raisins and low fat candies.
* Stuffed bunny rabbits and jelly beans, which are low in calories.
* A basket of brightly colored plastic eggs; with coins inside each egg.
* Coloring books and crayons.
* Small toys for either girls or boys.
* Peanut butter cookies and mini bran muffins.

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It seems there is an almost irresistable attraction between germ and kids. You’ve taken your youngest child to the park; sit her in the sandbox, only to notice she begins to eat the sand. Perhaps your child is playing in the backyard with the family dog, and starts kissing the dog on the mouth. When it comes to germs and kids, an irresistible attraction is imminent. What can you do to avoid these two opposites from becoming attracted to each other?  Here are some tips that may help.

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There are many styles of parenting, and each style has its advantages. That is why I feel it is important to understand the different parenting styles and take the best aspects of each. One such style is positive parenting. The words “positive parenting” tend to be thrown around a lot these days. Some people think it’s simply being loving to your children and avoiding punishment. Well, they’re partly right, but the important thing to remember is through the positive reinforcement there are consequences for behaviors and you are always working toward the goal of having happy, well-adjusted children. Children who live in positive environments don’t turn out to be spoiled brats! They grow up to be intelligent and successful in all aspects of their lives.

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Asthma in children is a very common condition. In fact it is becoming more and more prevalent. In recent times, its severity has greatly increased. Even though a lot of continuous research into the subject has been undertaken, and in spite of new developments in pharmacological agents having emerged, it is still one of the foremost causes that requires emergency care. It also may be one of the main causes why children miss school, and it can make children feel a sense of morbidity, disablement and even results, sometimes, in mortality.

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I don’t know if our son could be classified as having colic, but I would say he was definitely on the boarder of having colic. As many parents know, having a child with colic is one of the most heartwrenching experiences there is. Nothing seemed to comfort our little Tristan. We tried all the normal techniques, music, baths, motion, swaddling, and gas drops for babies.

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Is your child getting enough exercise? If she isn’t exercising at all, you should take steps to change that today. Exercise is important to your children’s health. Here are more reasons why your child benefits from a regular exercise routine:

1. Exercise reduces the risk of obesity. If your child participates in a regular exercise program, her chances of becoming obese are dramatically reduced. An active child means a healthier child. Read More

Life happens and sometimes life events are out of our control. One of the first things you think about when you are a single parent by choice (divorce, unmarried) or natural circumstances (death of a spouse), is who will care for my child or children?

There are a number of options and each has its pros and cons. Do your homework and based on your work routine, budget and the temperament of your child, choose a child care option that works with single parenting, not against it.

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