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Dental Care
- As you help your three or four-year-old to start brushing her teeth, teach her small, circular brushing motions.
- Here’s a quick way to know how long you should supervise your child as he brushes his teeth. When your child can write in cursive (about the age of eight), you can usually let him brush all by himself. That’s the age when children have the coordination and skills to properly brush their own teeth.
- About the size of a pea - that’s how much toothpaste your child should put on the toothbrush! Teach your child to rinse and spit out any leftover toothpaste.
Nutrition
- Eat meals together! Family meals help parents and children feel connected as they tell stories and share news. Studies show that children and teens who eat with their families do better in school and eat more healthy foods.
- Young children need snacks! Their stomachs are small and they can’t get all the nutrients they need from meals alone. Offer healthy, nutrient-rich foods like milk and milk products, fruit and whole grains for snacking.
- What do you do with a child who won’t try new foods? Be persistent. Studies suggest that you might need to offer a new food many times (10 times or more) before a child will try it.
- Try these fun and nutritious recipes!
 Safety
- Always place your baby on his or her BACK TO SLEEP for naps and at night.
- Do you have a family evacuation plan in case there’s a fire or an emergency in your home?
- There’s one place parents and grandparents overlook when they lock up poisons – Grandma’s purse! Young children are often fascinated with Grandma’s purse… and the medicines inside it.
- One of the most dangerous places in your home is your driveway. Make sure toddlers and young children are always supervised near moving cars. Create a safe play area well away from the driveway.
Active Play
- Children need at least 60 minutes of active play every day.
- Turn off the TV or the computer and ask your child to come outside and play with you. Walk the dog, set up an obstacle course or play tag.
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