Bringing toddlers in the kitchen during cooking time could be a great time for a little nutrition lesson.

This article discusses the importance of teaching children, as young as 12 months old, the importance of healthy eating. Yup, toddlers.

Well, it is certainly what I believe. We need to instill in their little minds how important it is, how much fun it to be healthy … before they form their eating habits.

I think one of the fun things about toddlers and preschoolers is their vivid imagination. They are so easy to market to. We just have to make it fun. Put a big smile on, an enthusiastic voice and some excitement and the child is right there wanting to see what happens next. We can really use cooking time as a great opportunity to show kids healthy foods and how fun it is to be healthy, cook healthy, think healthy…be healthy!

I have my four year old niece here today and she loves to help me in the kitchen. We play “find the colors” with the fruits and vegetables. I find myself being a kid again, enjoying the littlest things.

The article also goes on to discuss a little stool, called the FunPod that allows kids to help in the kitchen at this young age. The FunPod is a stand-alone unit that brings the toddler to the worktop or kitchen counter top height. I am not endorsing this FunPod because I have not seen it or “played with it”. If you want more information, the FunPod is made by Little Helper.

A new video is launched that is designed to get children exercising.

A new fun way to get your kids moving. A new dvd, titled “Fitness Kids” has recently been released. It features 12 kids ranging from the ages 5-14 on the dvd. They are touring nationwide this summer promoting their new exercise dvd for kids and educating families about the childhood obesity problem. The exercise routine is lead by clebrity fitness trainer Dawn Strozier.

But will little ones enjoy exercise from a dvd. I haven’t seen it so I really can’t comment. I remember watching Romper Room on TV and trying to follow along with the various activities they were doing. I had fun. But I certainly wasn’t exercising in front of the TV.

This is great if it works, just wondering about good old fashion playing in the backyard or schoolyard or park…

I am always looking for new products that will help reinforce the fun of healthy living. I have not checked out the video but it seems like a good concept.

This seems to be the new craze. I found this exercise dvd site that sells a variety of work-out dvds for kids. The range is huge…Elmocize to Jane Fonda. Prices range from $10 to 20 US dollars in general. Anytime, I find some new site or product that can help get kids more active or eating healthy, you can be sure I will pass it on.

If you have any good new toys, products or sites that you want to share, please post them.

Florida parents are now receiving a health report on their child using a BMI score to measure if the child is at a healthy weight.

In Florida, parents received health report cards that were based on their child’s BMI age-to-percentile score. To learn more about a BMI score and see what your child’s score is, you can go to our parent’s tools page. But back to the article, in one county, over 1600 children received report cards that said they had “excess” weight.

• Some parents felt that it was too negative and were concerned that it may hurt their child’s feelings.
• Other parents were concerned that the score was not accurate and did not reflect their child accurately.
• Finally, some parents blamed the schools for the kind of foods offered to the children and its lack of exercise programs in the schools.

All in all, I think it is pretty natural for a parents first response to be defensive. I think that is why the healthcare community does not use terms like “obese”. They use these terms instead “at risk for overweight” or overweight. Obese sounds so bad.

But we need to look at the reality here. Kids are overweight and we are seeing the trend of childhood obesity rising not declining. Perhaps the state needs to be more sensitive and explain it further rather than send a report card.

But shouldn’t this be a discussion you have with your pediatrician. Shouldn’t the peds be doing BMI scores and talking with parents. I am a nurse and concerned that this important screening tool and discussions are not taking place in the doctor’s office. Maybe, parents will have to become more proactive and ask their child’s pediatrician. “Is my child at a healthy weight?”

New toys launched that are designed to get kids moving.

I found this article that lists some new toys that are designed to promote activity. Getting kids to be active is an important part of being healthy. Kids need at least 60 minutes a day. This helps with growth, bone development and overall health. Here are some new toys that have come out that promote activity in a creative way.

I am not endorsing any of these toys since I have not personally played with them (one of the perks of being a parent). But I just wanted to pass them along. It lists the toy and associated prices.