With all the excitement of a new smartphone being released every few months, many can't seem to get the newest one fast enough. You know that times have changed when one of the most vocal and excited group is tweens and teenagers - yes, that's right - tweens. We are now living in a world where many teenagers feel that they "need" a smartphone.

So now the question for parents becomes, do I get my tween or teenager a smart phone? Arguments can be made for and against the phone in this important decision - and it is important, as you will be setting a precedent for your family. Here are some ways to help parents decide whether or not they should get their teenager a smartphone:

Affordability

Can your family afford it? It is important to remember that outside of just purchasing the actual smartphone, you will need to add a data plan and cell plan. These can easily run $100 per month, and people are often surprised by their first bill. Most plans also have hefty cancelation fees, so you need to know whether you can make the long-term commitment.

Purpose

Why does your child need a smartphone? One of the number one reasons teens will say they need a smartphone is so you, the parent, can always get a hold of them: how thoughtful of them. This is a good reason, but why a smart phone and not a regular phone? Your teen may also tell you their school now allows this type of technology during school time - while this may be true, it may be allowed for specific purposes only. Familiarize yourself with your school's policy.

Reward

Smartphones are expensive, slick, cool little computers that offer more than most kids really need. Has your teen earned it? This is one of the most important questions for a parent to consider. Think about setting very specific goals that focus on education and extracurricular activities to help determine if your teenager deserves a smart phone. Achieving these goals and earning a smartphone can actually be a very positive experience for your teenager.

Trust

Can you trust your tween or teenager with a smartphone? As parents, we all want to believe our teenagers are honest with us. The reality is, trust is established through actions. A smartphone opens up access to a whole new world with as many bad ways to use technology as good ways. If you have trust issues with your tween or teenager, you need to think long and hard about getting them a smartphone. You don't want to add in any way to poor decisions your son or daughter might make. With smart phones comes the Internet and access to "Apps"- phone applications that give you instant access to a wide variety of things. If not monitored, access is a cinch to games and websites that promote violence, pornography, and other negative influences. Many of these influences are addictive, and can lead to your teen spending long periods of time alone on their smartphone, disconnected from family and friends.

Your child may not be ready for a smartphone right now, and that is ok. All their friends may have one - fine. Don't feel pressure to buy your relationship with your teenager. Have a discussion with your teen, and make a plan with reasonable expectations. At the end of the day, your love and connection will always be your smartest move.

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What can make a parent more proud than seeing their son or daughter scoring the winning goal, hitting home the winning run, leading their cheerleading squad to a first place finish, receiving multiple scholarships to college, or being called to receive some type of recognition?

To be honest, not a whole lot. There is something very special about celebrating when our children achieve success.

With all that is great about being supportive and even pushing kids to be successful, there is also a chance that all the celebration could have a different type of influence. One parent may not even see until it's too late.

We have been taught that winning is important, and for some, it's the only thing that is important.

As parents we are charged with teaching our children so they are prepared for life. As part of this, we teach them how to be successful. One of the easiest ways to teach success is by making a connection to winning.

Thus, our kids start out on a sports team, in a dance class, playing the piano, or whatever it is. Our goal then becomes to see them achieve success. We will do whatever it takes to get them to practice, purchase the right equipment, and get extra instruction from an outside coach to help our child be successful or win. However, with all of our good intentioned efforts to help our child be successful, we often forget to teach them about the other side of success or winning- failure and losing.

Why are parents so fearful of failure for their children? There are many reasons for this: from having experienced failure themselves and it not being a good experience, to comparing with other kids and parents and not being as good.

No matter what the reason, parents focusing on their children's triumphs can potentially set them up for failure later on.

If we are being honest here, failure is a potential result. It should never be the option one strives for but it will happen to everyone at some point in their life.

As parents we have a duty and responsibility to teach and prepare our children to learn how to deal with failure and setbacks. This does not happen if our entire focus is only on them winning. In fact, creating an environment where a son or daughter feels like winning is the only option and result that a parent will accept can have devastating impacts on both the child and parent.

So how can parents help ensure their excitement and celebration of their children's success does not set them up for failure? Read these 3 tips:

1. Set proper expectations

Parents must be willing to have open discussions with their children about what their expectations are for them when they are pursuing something they love.

Coaches, teachers and trainers are going to set expectations for their players and students, but as parents we must be sure our children know what we expect. These expectations might include: always give your best effort, respect your coaches, teachers, teammates and opponents, always be humble and gracious even if you lose, and no matter what the outcome, we will love you.

Having these expectations will minimize some of the stress of the child and in turn the parent as well.

2. Manage your emotions

Parents will almost always be their children's number one fans; it's just how it goes. They can also be their sons or daughters worst fan; it all depends on how you manage your emotions.

You don't want to be that parent that is always the loudest and proudest. You also do not want to be that parent that screams, complains or shows disappointment when things don't go how you wanted them to.

You must find ways to manage your celebration, enthusiasm, frustration, disappointment and words because your child is watching you. Being able to show genuine love and support when they lose can be just as important, if not more impactful, as when they win.

3. Educate through failure

The best time for someone to learn is when we are humble. When we are humble, we are not proud or arrogant, and thus more open to listening and learning.

As parents find ways to help teach their son or daughter through experiences of failure, they will be preparing them for a much better future.

One of the most influential and impactful ways that a parent can teach is through their own personal examples. As a son or daughter listens to when their mom or dad failed or lost and what they learned, they will be more likely to learn from their own experience.

If you are one of those parents who have been celebrating the success and triumphs of your children, that is awesome. However, you may want to think about how you might help teach your children that although success and winning are great goals, and what they should strive for, failure is not the end of the world. Teach them that there are great lessons that come from those situations.

Be sure to teach them with love and always be real; they will know when you are not. Don't feel guilty if you feel your focus has only been on the success, as you don't want the pendulum to swing completely to the other side. Just take some small steps at first, but take them.

Your kids deserve it and you do as well. Just think about the celebration you can have as your kids grow up to learn from their experiences and find success in life.

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Do you believe everything you see on Facebook? Why or why not? Aren't you the one in control of what pages you like, groups you are a part of and what you post? Then why is it that so many people are finding it a struggle to hold onto their faith and beliefs while using social media?

We live in a world where our faith is being tested, criticized and questioned more and more. Although faith is a very personal matter, society is almost forcing people to publically defend it. Social media is one of the main reasons we are seeing an increase of lines in the sand — especially on Facebook.

Take just a minute to look through your timeline — you may be surprised at just how much about faith, religion and beliefs is being posted. As with many topics, we have to be careful about what we read, believe and engage with when it comes to social media. Everyone does not share the same beliefs; and it is important to be respectful of that when posting about religious topics.

So, how is Facebook influencing your faith? Here are some important things to look for:

Consider the source

When you see a post on Facebook that may be focused on faith, religion or beliefs, be sure to consider the source. Understanding who is posting, sharing or commenting will help you quickly assess whether it is worth your time to even view or read. Be careful of those who are simply trying to push hot buttons and have a track record of stirring things up. Even a close family member or friend can post something that is contrary to your faith, but it does not mean you have to engage. You can still love the person without loving the post.

Think before commenting

One of the most important things we as a society can do is have more real, meaningful engagement when it comes to religion, faith and beliefs. If you have something to say or want to take a stance, it is fine to do so, but think before you comment. Try to not allow your emotions to control your keypad. Be respectful when supporting your stance, and stay away from trying to make others look bad for believing in something different.

The almighty "Like" button

Whether you know it or not, there is an amazing amount of power and influence when you click the "Like" button. Whether you click it because a friend shared something you genuinely like, or you are just quickly going through your timeline and a picture, quote or headline catches your attention, that click will have an impact. Be very alert and aware of what you are clicking the "Like" button for.

Strengthen your faith

No matter what your faith is, find ways outside of Facebook and social media to help strengthen it. The more time you are spending proactively trying to build upon your faith, the less time you are surfing the Internet or on social media. As you strengthen your faith, it's OK to share posts on Facebook that support what you believe, but remember to do so in a way that is more focused on sharing.

We each have the power to control what we read, see, hear and follow. If we are allowing Facebook to kill our faith, then it may be time to step away from social media for a while. And if you find yourself having more questions than answers when it comes to your faith, social media is probably not your best source for answers.

Facebook and social media will continue to have enormous influence on individuals and societies; it's up to each of us to determine what that influence looks like.

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Religion is a topic that will always cause a reaction because of the deepness of feelings on both sides of the spectrum. But no matter what your beliefs are, the ability to communicate with others about what you believe can be done in a way that creates respect and understanding.

According to Webster's Dictionary, religion is defined as "the belief in a god or in a group of gods; an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods; an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group." Based on these definitions, it would seem that the majority of people in the world can associate themselves to some type of religion.

Many people want to steer clear of discussing religion, as it deals with an individual's personal beliefs. They do not want to cause contention or discord. On the other hand, there are many who have such strong faith in their beliefs that they feel compelled to share this with others.

Discussing religion does not have to create a weird situation if approached with dignity, respect and understanding.

When is the last time you spoke with someone about religion? What was the situation? Did you start the conversation or did the other person? How did you feel? Why did you feel the way you did? The ability to talk about religion should not bring up feelings of anxiety, nervousness or even shame; after all, sharing something that has brought you happiness in life should be something you desire to talk about.

The true key is understanding how to talk about religion in a way that creates opportunity for real, respectful dialogue. This happens when there is the ability to discuss your beliefs without forcing them on someone else. When the communication is open and there is a safe environment, discussions about why someone believes what he or she does, and how it has impacted his or her life can be some of the most rewarding and interesting conversations you have. As you listen to others' stories about what led them to their beliefs or religion, you can look for commonalities. As this is done, there is an increase of mutual respect and understanding.

Just as you desire respect from others about your beliefs, you should be willing to respect theirs as well. Trying to discredit another's religion creates negativity, discomfort and often bitterness. There is a difference between sharing what you believe and trying to convince someone else that what they believe is wrong. That is why discussing such a sensitive topic with care and respect is important.

Don't be assumptive or accusatory of others when religion is brought up. Generalizing, by using words such as "all," "never" or "everyone" often will turn what could have been an enjoyable conversation into one that is very awkward and often contentious. Understandably, comments like, "All of the members of your church are the same," or "Everyone says that your church is a cult and the members are crazy" will likely cause a person to be defensive or annoyed.

In a world that seems to teach that it is OK to have intolerance for what others believe, we instead need to support one another's beliefs. We cannot afford to create a society where people are forced to live their beliefs in secret. We must allow religious conversations to take place. No matter what you or someone else believes, we should all feel respected, and show that respect to others.

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How did you know it was her? How do you still know she is the right one for you? What was it about her that made you want to marry her? Depending on the context, married couples have probably been asked these questions at some point or another in reference to why they got married. The questions may have come from a child, friend, cousin or a number of other sources.

Every marriage has a story of how it came to be. But after the initial newlywed bliss wears off, it is important to remember why you want to be together.

Here are five ways to remind him that you really are the best choice he ever made:

1. His weaknesses

You love him despite his weaknesses. You have patience with him as he is trying to better himself, as he does with you. You help him focus on his strengths.

2. Constant support

No matter what you might be going through personally, you are there to offer words of love, support and encouragement. If he loses his job, you are the first to say it's OK. If he is down in the dumps, you are there to provide a comforting hug.

3. Your love for your children

He loves coming home from work and seeing you at the table helping your kids with their homework. He notices when one of your children states they have a huge project due the next day and you stay up the majority of the night helping to get it finished. He hears when your kids tell other kids how awesome their mom is. He sees the love and patience you have for your children, which he strives to emulate. These are all reasons he recognizes he made the best choice in a spouse.

4. Forgiveness

Husbands make mistakes. But from simple things like not clearing his own dishes to forgetting an anniversary, you are quick to forgive. You don't carry grudges, and realize it takes forgiveness so both of you can move on.

5. A better man

You make your husband a better person. Your example of loving and serving others has caused in him a desire to be more mindful of others. He is inspired to be better as he sees you strive to be your best self for him.

In a world that continually is trying to shape the way we think about marriage, family, divorce, parenting and relationships, it is important that you take the time to reflect on those initial reasons of why you got married. Every marriage will have its own set of challenges; but for those husbands and wives who are truly committed to each other, challenges will not break their bond of love.

Husbands, you have a wonderful opportunity to not only reflect on why your wife is the best choice you ever made, but to be sure she knows why as well. Reminding her of all that is good within her can bring higher levels of love, trust and comfort to the person you love most.

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Why is dad so grumpy? When is mom going to be home? How come we don't get to ever go on a vacation? These are the types of questions, along with many others, that show your kids are taking notice that your job is having a real impact on your role as a parent. The problem is that, as a working parent, we may be oblivious to these warnings from our own children - which can have lifelong impacts. Here are six signs that may indicate you need to either look for a different job or, at a minimum, see about improving the hours you work.

They tell you

It may sound obvious, but our kids have a unique ability to be both honest and loving, even in tough situations. Kids can feel when a working parent is no longer happy with what he or she is doing for work. Those feelings come in many formats and often lead to statements like, "Just go get another job if you are not happy," or "Why do you work so hard and we still can't afford anything?" As hard as that may sound, those types of comments shared with the love only a child has can unlock a better future for you.

Chaos and conflict

When a parent is unhappy with his or her employment situation, there can be a tendency for a lack of patience and understanding. Tempers can flare quickly and irrational decisions are made because of the frustration the parent feels. When this occurs there is an overabundance of chaos and conflict in the home. The result is devasting, as the home - the one place a child should be able to go for peace, comfort and safety - becomes an unwelcome environment of contention, negativity and anger. These feelings can create animosity toward loving parents trying to support their loved ones.

Constant complaining

When your job causes you to focus more on the negative aspects of what you do, a trend of constant complaining begins. How many times have you come home and started complaining about how bad your boss is, how lazy a coworker is, how you don't get paid enough or how you wish you had a better job? It is important to remember that as a parent, we lead by example and our constant complaining will cause concern in our children. Don't be surprised if they start complaining about their homework, teachers or friends.

Priorities are lost

It is difficult working a job that doesn't allow for time with your kids or family. You continually miss games, recitals, birthday parties and special moments with your kids because of your job. There is no doubt our kids will remember this. If you see that your priorities are not aligned with your kids, and in turn there is distance in your relationships, it is a sure sign something needs to change.

Money replaces relationships

This may sound crazy, but having a lot of money can have just as negative an impact as not having a lot of it. You can become too focused on ensuring that your kids have the nicest everything — a new car when they turn 16, and whatever the hottest style is that week. You are more focused on the material side of life, and yet can be completely disconnected from what your kids may actually need. There is no price tag on the emotional relationship kids have with their parents; and if your job is causing you to buy their love, there will likely be negative results.

Emotional rollercoaster

Our children are looking for good examples in us. If we cannot control our emotions based on our work, we need to reconsider what we are doing. It is confusing and frustrating for kids to see a parent come home from work one day super excited about what he or she is doing and how great things are going, and then depressed about how awful his or her job is the next. This emotional rollercoaster is taxing on children.

If any of these signs apply to your situation, the great thing is that you have the power to make things right. You don't have to quit your job tomorrow; but create an environment of trust and communication so that feelings can be expressed to your children with love. Job changes are never easy but they should be a family decision, or at a minimum, a family discussion. Your kids deserve the best mom or dad they can have. Your job should never stand in the way of you fulfilling your most important responsibility - being a loving parent.

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For many people, making friends can be one of the most nerve racking and complicated things they have to do in life. For others, making friends is as easy as 1, 2, 3. The truth is, no matter how hard it is for you to make friends, there are so many wonderful benefits of having friends in our lives that it's worth the effort. Trust me.

But in all honesty, this is one of those concepts that is easier said than done (especially if you are shy). However, no matter who we are, if we put the effort in to make friends, we'll quickly see the positive results.

Here are 3 ways to help make friends quickly:

Be Proactive

To be proactive means to take control of a situation by making things happen. When it comes to making friends, you might need to take the initial step. The more proactive you are in reaching out to others, the quicker you will be able to gain new friends.

There are many ways to be proactive, here are just a few:

1. Welcome a new neighbor by seeing how you can help them out. Maybe take dinner over to them their first night in their new house or see if you can help move in furniture.

2. Become friends with the parents of your kids. Give them a call or stop by early to a playdate to get to know them better.

3. Invite a neighbor over for dinner or a treat and see how well you both get along.

4. Say hi to others with a smile. You'll never know if they'll strike up a friendly conversation in return.

Be Genuine

The importance of being genuine while making friends cannot be overlooked. Being genuine means to be sincere, honest and truthful"¦all things you want in a friend. People will quickly see whether or not you wanting a real friendship or are being fake. When you are genuine, that friendship can develop much quicker and last a lot longer than a temporary or false friend.

Here are some helpful ways to be genuine:

1. Ask thoughtful questions and really listen to responses to get to know strangers better.

2. Find a way to serve. Providing service is one of the best ways to be genuine and show you truly care about someone else.

3. It is important to be yourself. Trying to be someone you are not causes a lack of trust and thus, a loss of being genuine.

Be Positive

Think about this quote for just a minute by Shannon L. Alder, "When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you."

It is truly amazing to see how people are more attracted to those who are being positive. If you possess and show this vibrancy as you are working to establish friends, their first impression of you will be memorable. You will most likely be someone they want to be around.

Here some helpful ways to be positive:

1. Smile often. Even when things may not being going your way, put on a smile. The power of a smile should not be underestimated.

2. Compliment others. As you look for the good in others, be sure to point those things out (but as was mentioned before, be sure you are being genuine).

3. Work to eliminate negativity in all its forms from your life. Negativity seems to be easier to find than positivity in today's world, which is why it takes more effort to be positive. However, when you are optimistic, you show your strength in a primarily negative world. Others will want to be more like you.

The more we practice or try something, the more comfortable we become"¦even when it comes to making friends!

To value of having friends can be hard to measure but this quote by Charles R. Swindoll does a great job of providing a good way to define their value, "I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun."

At the end of the day, to make friends, you must be a friend, too.

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"Fake it till you make it" and "grin and bear it" often are mantras repeated over and over again during stressful situations. Those mantras seem to be more of a "tough love" approach than real advice, but there may just be some truth to these phrases when you find yourself stressed out.

When is the last time you smiled? What was the situation? How does smiling make you feel? These questions are important to help us better understand the significance and importance smiling plays in our everyday lives. After taking a look at a number of studies focused on smiling, research says it takes on average 12 muscles to smile. That may not seem like a lot but the results that come from that smile are significant...especially when you are feeling stressed.

There might be as many as 50 different kinds of smiles, yet the underlying question is whether or not a smile can genuinely help you when you are feeling stressed. In a study titled, "Grin and Bear It: The Influence of Manipulated Facial Expression on the Stress Response" by Tart L. Kraft and Sara D. Pressman, one of the important conclusions they discovered was that smiling had an impact in lowering heart rates during stress recovery. Since this is the first study of its type, it's a little premature to make this the end all be all but it does give a scientific insight on the importance of smiling.

For those that have seen and felt the power of a smile (which is hopefully all of us), no science is needed to know that smiling can have a positive impact. Even if that smile might not be as genuine or real as it could be, the very act of smiling can play a key role when you feel stressed.

Why smile?

Even in difficult situations, the power of a smile can make quite a difference. Think about it: smiling makes you more real and opens you up, smiling can actually create a feeling of trust and respect for you and others, a smile can create a positive flow of energy throughout your body, and smiling makes you feel happier. These are all things you can feel personally, but what about the impact you might not notice?

You may never know all the impacts that your smile might have during a stressful time. There may be someone who is going through a less stressful situation than yours but when they see your smile, it provides them the opportunity to self-reflect. That self-reflection will often lead them to finding the positives in their situation as they have seen you and your example, all from your smile.

How to smile?

Okay, if that little header doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. Let's be honest, this is not about how you actually, physically smile, this is about how you can smile during those stressful times. Here are some ways that might help:

• Pull out an old photo of yourself, preferably one where you were acting goofy or at a minimum had a big smile, reflect upon that time

• Watch, listen, or read an inspirational story and see what you might able to learn to help you

• Tell a joke to a friend

• Read the comics in the newspaper (paper or online version:)

If all else fails, there is a pretty sure-fire way to help you or anyone generate a smile in almost any situation. This is one that I learned many years ago and have used often. I have also taught others to use it and they have reported back that it works. Simply find a mirror and while staring at yourself, say the words "I am happy", "I am happy", "I am happy." Often by the second or third time you will be smiling. Now, if you do this in a public place, there is no question someone will be smiling when they see you doing this. There is something very powerful about our subconscious mind and when we take that time to focus on ourselves and tell ourselves how we are feeling, it seems to help the situation.

In a time when people are quick to judge, slow to forgive, and seem to dwell on what is wrong in the world, I must take this opportunity to confess that for all those years my mom told me to "fake it till I make it" and I thought she was crazy, I was wrong and she was right. I have learned from her that a smile can change lives in so many wonderful ways so mom, this smile is for you :).

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How often do parents say something to the effect of, "I want my kids to have a better life than I did"? It is probably a fair assumption that it happens on a regular basis. This type of question demonstrates the love that parents have for their children. However, more often than not, after asking that question, nothing changes. Parents continue to do the same things they have been doing.

In order for parents to really help their children have a better life than they have had, they must ensure they develop habits that will support that desire.

Communicate clearly

The ability to clearly communicate will make a difference in every aspect of one's life. Parents must be the model of what it means to clearly communicate to ensure their children make it a habit in their lives. When one can articulate well what they want and need, there is a much better chance at success.

Love to learn

Being a lifelong learner is a habit that will pay great dividends for both the parent and child. As children see their mom and dad proactively looking for ways to learn new things, and then applying what they have learned, they will desire to develop this habit as well. Loving to learn is not something that comes easy to many, but the habit can be developed. For example, when you find something you love, strive to learn more about it. As you do this, you will be teaching as well.

Service above self

There is something very empowering and rewarding about serving others. As parents develop the habit of finding ways to serve others, they will teach their children what it means to be a selfless person — something our world needs more of. This concept can often help during times of personal trial or struggle. The ability to help others despite a time of personal difficulty can provide a more selfless, caring attitude and allow for a renewed sense of focus.

Healthy eating

Childhood obesity is a problem that continues to grow, and the main reason for this is that parents are not developing a habit of healthy eating themselves. Telling children to eat healthy while parents are not doing so themselves will not have the desired effect. Eating healthy is a habit that must be developed through making a conscious choice to do so. It can be as easy as starting to eat more fruits and vegetables each day. Find ways to incorporate them into meals and teach your children the importance of eating healthy.

Physical activity

If getting out of bed each morning is what one considers physical activity, there is a need to develop a habit of daily physical improvement. Unfortunately, many parents imagine physical activity as a gym filled with intimidating fitness enthusiasts. This becomes discouraging, so the motivation to start never happens. Developing a habit of daily physical activity can be one of the most important ways to ensure your children have a healthy life. Start by taking a 20-minute walk each morning or evening. Set the goal and then make it happen.

Live your values

Values are what define a person. They are those beliefs that drive our decisions for the better. Having a strong set of values provides clarity and priorities in our goals. As children watch how their parents develop and live their values, they will often incorporate similar ones into their own lives. As parents live their values, there is a great opportunity to discuss these with their children. These discussions are valuable in teaching why establishing and living values is so important.

Master money

Finances have been shown to be one of the main reasons to negatively impact relationships within a marriage. The inability to manage money can lead to heartache, stress and a breakdown in communication, none of which will actually help children have a better life. Teach children to live by a budget and why it is important. Explain the importance of saying no to wants to ensure needs are met.

Show support

Parents that show support and unconditional love to their children have developed a priceless habit. Our children will do things that cause emotional pain and sadness; but as parents show love and support to their children, they will keep the door open to helping them. The goal is not to have that door slammed shut. Showing support does not mean parents will agree with what the child is doing, but rather will demonste the importance of being there when children need it most.

Do hard things

When parents learn to do hard things, their children will have a positive example of how to better handle trials. There is much truth in the fact that nothing can get stronger without some type of opposition. Thus, as parents tackle a challenge or strive to make it through a trial with a desire to learn from that experience, they will have taught their children the blessings that come from doing hard things.

Habit is defined as an "acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." As you develop the above nine habits, you will be creating the real opportunity to ensure a better life for your children.

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Have you ever heard a parent say, "Look at that child. He is overweight. It's sad their parents don't care."? Whether one wants to admit it or not, a good majority have or do make this type of observation on a fairly regular basis. But if you were to ask this same parent if her own child was obese, how would she respond? Does she know what truly defines a child as obese?

Eye-opening study

A team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the UCL Institute of Child Health conducted a study focused on whether or not parents could identify their child as obese or not. According to the experts who reviewed the results, "the study showed the 'enormity' of the obesity epidemic." The findings should create more than concern, they should create a strong motivation for parents to become more aware and establish healthier eating habits.

In this study, parents were given a questionnaire asking whether they thought their child was obese, overweight, a healthy weight or underweight. As a parent reading this, how would you respond for your child or children? Once all the data was collected, 31 percent of parents who completed the questionnaire underestimated the weight of their child. That 31 percent represents nearly one-third of the almost 3,000 who participated. Not surprising, it was only those parents who had children that were at the end of either side of the scale who were more accurate.

The Blame Game

Why would such a large portion of parents not be able to identify clearly the weight issues in their own child? According to what the researchers gained from these results, parents stated their misdiagnose was due to the reality that the world we live in has become obese, and thus a new norm has been set. This is such a dangerous and slippery slope and, as parents, there must be an accountability and dedicated effort to turn this around. This cannot wait.

As a parent, are you confident in your ability to correctly assess your own child's weight? If we are being honest, it can be difficult to realize that our own child may have a problem, any type of problem. This is especially true when it comes to weight. Parents have to take accountability for this and that, in and of itself, is a difficult thing to do. Parents cannot turn a blind eye when it comes to the health of their children. The more parents accept the reality of the situation, the better chance there will be for a successful turnaround and a chance at a better, more healthy, life.

It is important to understand the health consequences when preventative measures are not taken. Some of these may be easier to detect than others, but they all have a devastating impact: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, restless or disordered sleep patterns, bone and joint problems, depression and low self-esteem.

There is one other impact that cannot be overlooked - bullying. The news and social media broadcast stories, on a regular basis, of kids being bullied. Often, weight has something to do with it. What a sad state our society is in, but if we take a stand by working to understand and prevent childhood obesity, we can truly minimize these impacts. Parents can make a huge difference in preventing a child from becoming obese. The first step is in identifying whether or not your child is obese or in danger of being obese. Once identified, there is a need to determine what changes can be made to help your child achieve a healthy weight.

Become more educated

Learning how to determine if your child is on a path of obesity is key to helping parents become proactive in turning things around. Many use what is called The Body mass index or BMI in determining the current status of one's body weight. This can be a good indicator but is not a perfect measurement, especially during times when a child might be growing at a rapid rate. Parents should do all they can to get the most accurate information in determining whether their child is obese or overweight.

An essential part of achieving a healthy weight is understanding the need to eat healthy. The best place to start is helping your child eat more fruits and vegetables. The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables are well documented. There are vital phytonutrients and nutrition in fruits and vegetables that will provide the body with what it needs to sustain a healthy weight.

The best teaching tool is by example. Create an environment of prevention by making healthy eating a standard family practice. Does healthy eating impact a family's budget? No. Eating healthy creates an upside on a family's financial budget because there is less being spent on medicines, hospital visits and programs needed to remedy a health problem. An investment in eating healthy is a proactive way in prevention.

This study clearly shows there is work to be done in creating more visibility in our own children when it comes to their weight and overall health. Now is the time take ownership of the healthy habits of your family. By adopting preventative practices and making healthy choices today, you and your children can enjoy the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and a lifestyle that will carry them through to a happy and healthy future.

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