Sun Safety Information: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek & Slide

Here is a fun, short video and catchy guidelines to help your family remember the importance of protecting yourself from the sun. Click here to view the video!

• Slip on a shirt – Put your hand inside the shirt to make sure you can’t see through it to ensure that it will screen out harmful UV rays.
• Slop on sun screen – The American Cancer Society recommends an SPF 15 or higher.
• Slap on a hat – Make it wide-brimmed to cover face, neck and ears.
• Seek shade – Bring your own umbrella or find a nice shady tree.
• Slide on some sunglasses – Make sure sunglasses provide 100% UV protection.

For more information on sun exposure and keeping kids safe, please visit www.kidshealth.org.

Healthy kids = happy kids!

Summertime is in full swing, which means kids are out of school and parents often are anxious for ideas on helping their kiddos stay busy. While the Oklahoma heat sometimes makes it tempting to stay inside during the summer months, it’s important to remember that regular exercise is something children need to be happy and healthy.

 Benefits of Kids Exercising Regularly:

1. Have stronger muscles and bones
2. Maintain a healthy body weight
3. Reduce the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes
4. Sleep better
5. Feel less stressed
6. Reduce the risk for developing some diseases later in life, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol
7. Feel more able to focus on other important tasks, like schoolwork
8. Develop healthy habits that they can continue using as they grow!

On average, children should exercise for 60 minutes daily to receive these benefits. When it’s hot outside, there are lots of ways to be creative about staying active. The month of July provides a unique opportunity to enjoy local attractions as a family, as it is National Park and Recreation month! The City of Norman has many parks that provide play areas for children and shady spots for parents to spend time while watching their kids play. There are also two free splash pads in Norman where families can be active and stay cool. Being active as a family is a great way to build healthy habits for children and fun memories that can last a lifetime!

 - Emily Deardorf, MSW; Children's Therapist at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI)

Family Wellness Month

It’s hard to believe that May is upon us, and with it of course comes spring weather. In Oklahoma, however,that actually means warm summer weather! Memorial Day marks the return of family get-togethers which means lots of good food, BBQ, fried chicken, potato salad, and yummy desserts. Which all coincides with something May is a little less well known for -- Family Wellness Month.

Never heard of it?  Well Family Wellness Month is a way to publicize healthy family lifestyles and habits. The healthier each individual family is, the healthier an entire community can be overall.  And then maybe Oklahoma could break our cycle of being one of the 10 UNHEALTHIEST states in the nation!  Yuck!

What is important to remember is that the choices, habits, and activities we make now continue for a long time.  Here are some healthy ideas of things you can do with your family to increase your family’s emotional, physical, and mental wellness this month that will hopefully transform into healthier habits that will last the rest of the year!

Take your children or grandchildren to a neighborhood park, swing on the swings or play on the teeter totter.  They do still have them, right?  Even better, if there is a playground close by, just walk to get a little extra exercise.  The key word is “move”.   Move off the couch and out into the yard, the park, walk at the mall, just move!

Change your eating habits.  Even making a few small changes can make a difference. Eating lean meats, more fruits and veggies results in fewer bulges around the tummy and more energy to do the things you enjoy!  It doesn’t mean that you can’t eat a piece of fried chicken or indulge in your favorite dessert…moderation and portions are the key.  Watch your portions!  Do not supersize your food, rather eat smaller portions which can equal getting into those favorite pair of shorts!

So this May get your family started on the choices that will last them and you a lifetime and embrace Family Wellness Month by making your family just a little healthier!  

-Karen Walker, LPC, LMFT, LADC, Director of Service Operations

Bottoms up.



CCFI Baby Pantry



Imagine everything it takes to be a parent.
Now imagine it without diapers.

Many families struggle to provide basic needs for their children. In fact, one in three mothers will struggle to provide clean, dry diapers for their babies. Contrary to popular belief, government programs do not assist with paper products, including diapers, and many daycare and child care agencies will only accept disposable diapers. With that said it becomes a difficult situation, and often times a choice, for parents struggling to make ends meet.

However, the Center for Children and Families, Inc.’s (CCFI) Baby Pantry assists parents in being able to meet these essential needs. One of our core organizational beliefs here at CCFI is that all parents need help and should never be ashamed to ask for advice, diapers or support. We see caregivers that seek help in raising their children every day at CCFI and know it is a sign of maturity and hope – never failure.
Anytime you can help lessen stress and assist families in being successful parents you are teaching them valuable skills.  Stressed parents do not always make positive decisions. By offering support and hope we are providing the opportunity for parents to have one less stressor in their lives.  Sometimes it helps just knowing that someone cares…and is there when you need them the most. Our Baby Pantry serves that role and is there for when parents need it the most.

At CCFI we’ve been fortunate to stock our Baby Pantry entirely on community donations and provided thousands of parents with nearly 40,000 diapers and hundreds of essential items (baby wipes, formula and cereal) in 2011. If we can provide support, encouragement and hope to families by allowing them to focus on the more important areas of parenting, like the relationship with their little ones, then it’s truly a benefit for the parent, child and the family as a whole, all of which transcends into a healthier community.

Brain Hero

We are digging this video.  

Are you a brain hero?

 

Much of the work we do at the Center is to promote stronger relationships and positive development during the early years of life for brighter futures. 

This video is a great visual display of why the solution to complex social problems is within early childhood experiences.