Yesterday marked Parents’ Day 2012, a time to recognize the important role parents play in their children’s lives and celebrate the love and bond between parental figures and child. Parent’s Day “aims to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models.”

Parents have a lot to do in a day -- play dates, doctor’s appointments, and science projects—the most important may be the one we least think about: influence over a child's healthy lifestyle and weight. Today nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Research has found that a child’s risk for adult obesity doubles if a parent is obese, so it is important for parents to be healthy as well. 

Luckily, there is information about how parents can help their child stay at or get to a healthy weight.

• Limit screen time. Follow the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics and limit media time for kids to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day whether at home, school or child care.
  
• Get moving. Make sure your child gets the proper amount of physical activity each day.
• Create a healthy eating environment. Kids develop food habits and preferences by age 2-3—mainly through the family environment.  Children’s habits are formed by following your role modeling, and through your positive and negative responses to their choices. So, emphasize fruits and vegetables and set firm rules about healthy snack choices. 

The role of a parent is crucial in the nurturing and development of children. What is your community doing to support parents? What do you do, as a parent, to ensure a healthy life for your children?

Want to know more?

National Parent’s Day Council: http://www.parentsday.com/

University of Michigan Child Development Resources: http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/

Strategies and Solutions to Childhood Obesity: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/solutions.html