- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
A Healthier Year
Tips From the American Academy of Pediatrics
Prevent Violence by Setting Good Examples
Set limits for your children by letting them know what's expected and noticing when they meet your expectations. Try to avoid hitting, slapping or spanking. Your children may copy you and think that it is OK to hit other people.
Make Sure Immunizations Are up to Date
Review your child's immunization record with your pediatrician. Make sure your child is current on recommended immunizations.
Provide Your Child With a Tobacco-free Environment
Second-hand tobacco smoke increases ear infections, chest infections and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If you smoke, consider quitting. Remember, your child loves you and will copy you – if you smoke, your children may grow up to be smokers, too. Make your home a smoke-free zone.
Read to Your Child Every Day
Start by the age of 6 months. Reading to children shows them the importance of communication and motivates them to become readers. It also provides a context to discuss issues and learn what is on your child's mind.
Practice "Safety on Wheels"
Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up for every ride, with children in the back seat in age-appropriate child safety seats. All bikers, skaters and skateboarders should wear helmets and other appropriate sports gear.
Do a "Childproofing" Survey of Your Home
A child's-eye view home survey should systematically go from room to room, removing all the "booby traps" that await the curious toddler or preschooler. Think of poisons, small objects, electrical outlets, sharp edges, knives and firearms, and places to fall.
Monitor Your Children's "Media"
Monitor what your children see and hear on television, in movies and in music. Children are affected by what they see and hear, particularly in these times of violent images. Talk with your children about "content." If you feel that a movie or TV program is inappropriate, redirect them to more suitable programming.
Help Kids Understand Tobacco, Alcohol and the Media
