Osteoporosis, as a matter of fact, is a childhood disease that manifests itself only later in life. The condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, which eventually leads to broken bones, and may cause deformity, chronic pain or disability. So there is a new understanding of the best ways to protect ourselves and our children. Changes in your simple lifestyle can save your bones and your life, and it is never too soon to at least take an action. Remember, awareness is the best prevention.

Enroll your child in programs and activities that truly interest him, or at least arouses his interest. For him to be exposed to sports and arts in class is a good start. It could be the activities you enjoy together. To widen his choices, allow him to spend time with friends who have different interests. These will give him an idea as to what he really enjoys doing.

Leave room for playtime. Regardless how much after-school activities or that needs to be done, playtime should be part of the schedule. Let him run with his playmates, play with his dog or his favorite toy, because this is the only time to be just himself – to be just a little kid.

Minimize time spent on multimedia. Before, kids only had the television to hold their attention. Now, there is the internet, video games and cell phones to play on. Guide them towards activities that promote school interaction instead.

DO:

Plan a fun outing for just the two of you. Your daughter is more likely to open up with no one else around. Choose an activity that allows you to interact, such as pedicures, hair salon and lunch.

Offer to help, even if you are rebuffed. The more often you let her know you are available, whether for their school assignments or hairstyling, the more likely she is to take you up on it, if not right away, but eventually.

Share some of the same hobbies or pastimes, and use these activities as a reason to spend time together.

DON’T:

Take it personally when she shuts you out. And do not give up trying for fear of being rejected. You never know when you will catch her at a time when she is open to your advice.

Try to be her best friend. This will lead her to expect a life without limits.

Dress like you are a teenager yourself. Nothing is less cool than a 44-year old woman dressed like a 16-year old.  Especially when that woman is your mother. In this way, your daughter will be more comfortable around you.

1. Do not take sides, and do not involve yourself in your children’s conflicts, because it may aggravate the situation and the fight itself, and one of them might feel that he or she is being ganged up. Ensure your kids that you are not taking sides even if you think that one of them has done nothing wrong.  Otherwise, this will be used by one of the kids against the other sibling.

2. Listen to each side of the story. Know and understand where each of them is coming from, so you can think of better and faster ways to have your kids reconcile with each other without harboring grudges against anyone.

3. Be careful of what you will say to anyone of them. They don’t need to know what one has said to the other anyway. Do not be a messenger of “ill feelings” to one and the other so as not to make the fight even worse.

4. Let them resolve their personal issues against each other. Even if you are so eager to resolve the conflicts yourself, at the end of the day, they will have to realize the consequences of continuing with the conflict. If you force them to reconcile with each other, it might make the matters even worse.

5. Always remind your children that you love them equally. If they cannot resolve their issues just yet, let it be for the time being, but remind them at all times that you love them both.

* Deciding any differences are wrong.

* Compartmentalizing the differences. Like for example, if a friend can not go to dances on Friday evenings because of religious observances, the friend can still share activities on other days.

* Getting advice from a significant other, such as  a parent or a minister or a pastor.

More often than not, teenagers believe that different religious beliefs and practices actually have more similarities than differences. At this stage, their focus is on interpersonal rather than conceptual matters. As parents, you should be able to openly discuss spiritual matters to your teenage children. Present an open, accepting attitude to your children’s questions and statements as regards to spiritual matters and their implications for health. You can also arrange for them to see a member of your religious faith if so desired, or you can talk with members of your church peer group for support. Most importantly, provide a comfortable environment in which your kids can practice the rituals of your faith.

Children who think, see and perceive their parents as strict may become resentful or overly obedient. The kids usually control their behavior because they want love and approval from their parents or from anyone older in the family, like uncle, aunts, grandparents, etc. Moral behavior to a child may mean taking turns at play or sharing. It is important that parents know moral development, and they should give their children recognition for actions such as sharing. it is also necessary and important for the parents to answer their kids “why” questions and discuss values with them.

1. Check cords for fraying or other signs of damage before using an appliance. Do not use if damage is apparent.

2. Avoid overloading outlets and fuse boxes with too many appliances.

3. Use only grounded outlets and plugs.

4. Always pull a plug from the wall outlet by firmly grasping the plug and pulling it straight out. Pulling a cord by its cord can damage the cord and plug unit.

5. Never use electric appliances near sinks, bathtubs, showers, or other wet areas, because water readily conducts electricity.

6. Place protective covers over wall outlets to protect young children.

7. Have all noninsulated wiring in the home altered to meet safety standards.

8. Carefully read instructions before operating electrical equipment. If you do not understand how to operate the equipment, seek advice.

9. Always disconnect appliances before cleaning or repairing them.

10. Unplug any appliance that has given a tingling sensation or shock and have an electrician evaluate it for stray current.

11. Keep electric cords coiled or taped to the ground away from areas of traffic to prevent others from damaging the cords or tripping over them.

* Do not allow your children to run with candy or other objects in the mouth, because they might choke if accident will happen.

* Teach your children not to put small objects in their mouth, nose, and ears.

* Remove doors from unused equipment such as refrigerators.

* Always supervise your children when crossing streets and begin safety teaching about obeying traffic signals and looking both ways.

* Check Halloween treats before allowing your children to eat them. Discard loose or open candy.

* Teach your children to play in safe areas, not on streets and railroad tracks.

* Teach your children the dangers of playing with matches and playing near charcoal, fire, and heating appliances.

* Teach your children to avoid strangers and keep yourselves informed of their whereabouts.

* Teach your children not to walk in front of swings and not to push others off playground equipment.

* Use a federally approved car seat at all times and it should be in the back seat, facing backward.

* Do not leave your baby unattended on a raised surface.

* Check the temperature of your baby’s bath water and formula prior to using.

* Hold your baby upright during feeding. Do not prop the bottle. Cut food in small pieces, and do not feed your baby peanuts or popcorn.

* Investigate your baby’s crib for compliance with federal safety regulations: slats no more than 2-3/8 inches apart, lead-free paint, height or crib sides, tight fit of mattress to crib.

* Use a playpen with sides made of small-size netting. Never leave playpen sides down.

* Provide large soft toys with no small detachable or sharp-edged parts.

* Use guard gates on stairs and screens on windows. Supervise your baby in swings and high chairs.

* Cover electric outlets. Coil cords out of reach.

* Place plants, household cleaners, and waste baskets out of reach. Lock away potential poisons, such as medicines, paint, and gasoline.

* Place children in the back seat when traveling in a car. Continue to use federally approved car seats at all times.

* Teach your children not to put objects in the mouth, including vitamins or medicines, unless you give it to them.

* Keep objects with sharp edges, such as furniture and knives, out of children’s reach.

* Place hot pots on back burners with handles turned inward.

* Keep cleaning solutions, insecticides, and medicines in locked cupboards.

* Keep windows and balconies screened.

* Supervise toddlers in the bath tub.

* Fence in pools, and supervise toddlers, at all times when in or near pools. Do not overfill bath tub. Do not let toddlers play near ditches or wells.

* Teach children not to run or ride a tricycle into the street.

* Obtain a low bed when the child begins to climb.

* Cover outlets with safety covers or plugs.