5 healthy habits parents should teach their kids

Here's how we can help our kids develop habits good for them

Habits are learned behaviours, not intuitive. So what your children learn at home early in life sticks with them well into adulthood. And as parents, we can help our children develop healthy habits through their growing up years that will bring lifelong benefits. Here are the top five healthy habits that every parent should teach their children.

1. Keep oneself clean
Learning to keep one's body clean is a surefire way to remain healthy. And handwashing tops the list of healthy habits children should learn for one simple reason: Doing it often—and doing it right—can reduce the number of colds, flu, and other infections children get by 50%!

Parents can impart these hand-washing how-tos to their kids through these simple steps: Use warm water and soap, and scrub for at least 20 seconds (that's about the time needed to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice). Rub fronts and backs of hands, and between every little finger. Rinse thoroughly, and dry hands on a clean towel. Easy peasy.

2. Eat right
Healthy eating can help children feel good, stay at or reach a healthy weight, and have lots of energy for school and play. And instilling a routine of regular mealtimes in childhood can help make it more likely that your kids will continue this good habit when they are older.

First and foremost, don't skip breakfast. Going without breakfast correlates with four times the likelihood of obesity! Also, eat as a family as often as possible and keep family meals pleasant and positive. Limiting sweet drinks and encouraging them to drink water when they are thirsty will be useful too, while offering lots of vegetables and fruits every day at the same time.

3. Enjoy physical activities
I guess there isn't a need to explain how being sedentary will snowball into an unhealthy lifestyle as one grows older. Get the kids off the sofa and out of the door by planning for times for everyone to get moving together.

Take walks, go swimming, go wild at the playgrounds or simply just play hide-and-seek—encourage physical activities that the kids really enjoy. Staying healthy and active then becomes easier to maintain. And eventually, everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.

4. Read every day
Learning to read is one of a child's greatest learning milestones. So not only is developing strong reading skills an essential component of a child’s success in school and at work later in life, the love for reading will hopefully fuel his/her thirst for knowledge while growing up.

Experts suggest that daily reading to children should begin by six months of age, and that daily family reading routines help with children’s literacy development. Choose books that your kids like so that they view reading as a treat rather than a chore, and keep them supplied with appealing titles that make them want to read more.

5. Stay positive
A healthy mind translates to a healthy well-being. As kids, it may be easy for them to get discouraged when things do not go their way. Learning about resilience starts from when they are young, and parents can show them the importance of staying positive in order to overcome disappointments and setbacks.

Kids, not only adults, can benefit from positive relationships so help your kids develop healthy self-esteem and a positive mindset by teaching them they are lovable, capable, and unique, regardless of whatever challenges they encounter.

At the end of the day, kids learn habits—both good and bad—from their parents because not surprisingly they do what they see we do and not what we say.  Kids learn by imitation; so only by setting a good example ourselves will we be able to teach them the effectiveness of these healthy habits.

Ref:  https://sg.news.yahoo.com/5-healthy-habits-parents-should-teach-their-kids-055008830.html

The One-Week Fix for Bad Behavior

My plan was to end my kids' whining, hitting, and tantrums in seven days. But first I had to change my own actions.

By Jacqueline Burt from Parents Magazine

How to Discipline Your Kids

Courtesy of Jacqueline Burt

"Why does Julian have to be so annoying?" Usually, when my 9-year-old daughter, Charlotte, poses this question about her 4-year-old brother, my response is, "Don't call your brother annoying." But one rainy day, after spending hours listening to Julian's whining, I asked myself: "Why do kids have to be so annoying?"

Nothing drives me crazier than my son's high-pitched complaints, except Charlotte's tendency to pinch or smack her brother. Sometimes I wonder if my stress level is higher because I'm a single mom. Still, the married mothers I know say every child has a behavior that's like fingernails on a chalkboard. But we may be as much to blame as our kids. "If you focus on what a child is doing wrong, he'll naturally resist, which leads to arguments and worse conduct," explains Bernard Percy, a parenting consultant in Los Angeles.

Percy is right: My kids' annoying tendencies tend to bring out the worst in me. "I can't take this for another minute!" I found myself yelling recently. Then I stopped to think. I couldn't expect my kids to change their negative habits instantly. So I asked experts for their top behavior-modifying tips and agreed to try a different one every day for one week.

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Day 1: Don't React

Courtesy of Jacqueline Burt

My first move was to determine what I've been doing wrong. "The mistake most parents make is responding to the misbehavior, since negative attention is better than none at all," explained Ed Christophersen, Ph.D., clinical child psychologist at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, in Kansas City, Missouri.

But I was afraid of what would happen if I ignored them. Would Julian's histrionics burst my eardrums? Would Charlotte give him such a pounding that he'd need to visit the E.R.? Dr. Christophersen suggested telling them about my new policy during a calm moment. "Guys," I announced at breakfast, "from now on, if there's whining or bickering, I'm going to pretend I don't see or hear you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, whatever," Charlotte shrugged.

"Uh-huh," said Julian. "Can I have more juice?" His reaction came later, when we were clothes shopping for Charlotte. "Why do we have to be in this stupid store?" he asked. "I want to go home!" Ordinarily, I would fish a candy out of my purse to keep Julian quiet. But this time, I simply continued sorting through shirts.

"Mommy! Do you hear me? I hate it here! I said it's stupid!"

Ignoring my son and the glares of the salespeople, I smiled brightly. "Look, Charlotte, they have your size in blue!"

Julian screeched louder and louder. It took all my willpower not to respond. But then, suddenly... silence. He had discovered some key chains that looked like Lego people and played with them until we were ready to go.

Apparently whining loses its appeal when Mom doesn't acknowledge it. Still, I never want to show my face in that store again.

Day 2: Stay Positive

Courtesy of Jacqueline Burt

I woke up the next morning dreading the inevitable tantrums and sibling showdowns I'd face that day. But Robin H-C, a family coach and author of Thinking Your Way to Happy!, set me straight: Expecting kids to be bad is a self-fulfilling prophecy. "When you label your child, make sure it's positive so he has something to live up to," she told me.

I tried that when Julian complained that he couldn't find the right blocks to build a house for his action figures. "You're good at making things," I said. "Use something else."

"Noooo!" he yelled.

But then--miracle of miracles!--Charlotte stepped in. "Come on, Julian, I'll help you," she said.

"Charlotte, thanks for being such a helpful big sister," I said. Half an hour later, the kids came running in with a shoebox they'd turned into a house using tape and scissors.

"That's a great house," I said, "and I'm so proud of you for playing nicely together." The rest of the day was oddly peaceful. Could the solution really be this simple?

Day 3: Walk the Walk

Next, I decided to change my own bad behavior, since Jayne Bellando, Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital, in Little Rock, pointed out that I was modeling the very thing I wanted to curb in my kids.

While I don't whine at them, I do tend to nag. So during morning madness, instead of imploring my kids to get a move on, I said calmly, "Just reminding you that we have to leave in five minutes or you won't make it on time." Charlotte and Julian gathered their things faster than usual. Then, remembering that Dr. Bellando had told me to label my positive actions, I added, "See, I asked you guys nicely to get ready." Charlotte looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "That's good, Mom," she said, in the tone one would use to talk someone down from a window ledge. Oh well--at least they didn't wind up needing late passes.

Day 4: Validate Before Disciplining

I could swear my kids go out of their way to drive me nuts. I asked Gary M. Unruh, author of Unleashing the Power of Parental Love, if this could be true. "No, kids usually act out for a reason," he answered. "That's why you should point out the feelings that caused your child to misbehave, and then give her a fair consequence." This will help her feel accepted and understood, even as she's being disciplined.

I had the chance to test this approach when Charlotte hit her brother after he accidentally broke her bracelet. Rather than going with my instinct ("It was an accident, and you know better than to hit"), I said, "You must be really mad at Julian for ruining your bracelet."

Charlotte' eyes welled up. "He's always messing up my stuff, and you never get mad at him," she said.

"I need to correct Julian more," I said. "You have a right to be angry. But I need you to go to your room for a time-out. That's what happens when you hit."

To my surprise, Charlotte went straight to her room. When she came out, there was none of her typical post-punishment sulking. I'm tempted to proclaim that "feelings first, discipline second" is the best behavior trick I've ever tried. The one drawback: Its success is dependent on having the patience to implement it.

Day 5: Be Consistent

My ability to handle my kids' outbursts depends on my mood. But there's no such room for variability. "You need to be consistent, make your expectations clear, and avoid your own outbursts," asserted Bertie Bregman, M.D., chief of family medicine service at New York- Presbyterian Hospital, in New York City.

To combat Julian's whininess, I decided the message of the day would be, "You get what you get and you don't get upset--4-year-olds don't whine."

In the morning, he saw we were out of his favorite toothpaste. "I hate the minty kind!" he bellyached.

"You get what you get and you don't get upset--4-year-olds don't whine," I said.

In the afternoon, when Julian was outraged that the Darth Vader book he wanted had been checked out of the library, I shrugged and said, "You get what you get and you don't get upset--4-year-olds don't whine."

"Why do you keep saying that, Mom?" he asked, then settled on his second-choice book.

In the evening, he whined that he wanted chicken nuggets. "You get what you get?..." I began.

Julian interrupted me. "I know, I know," he said, shoving ravioli into his mouth.

I gave this method a thumbs-up. While it may have irritated my son, his behavior definitely improved.

Day 6: But Sometimes Change the Rules

Next I decided to address my kids' bad TV habits. Put simply, they watch too much, battle over control of the remote, and complain endlessly when it's time to turn it off (and do homework or take a bath). I started out letting them watch so I could make dinner in peace but I'd let things slip--a lot. When I explained the problem to Catherine Hickem, author of Regret Free Parenting, she suggested I limit their screen time and create new habits to undo the old ones. She warned me that my kids might react strongly--and negatively--at first. "You simply have to deal with the havoc of resetting boundaries," Hickem insisted.

Late that afternoon, when I told my kids that there'd be no more iCarly while I cooked dinner, I braced myself. Even so, the screaming was worse than I could have imagined. Not knowing what else to do, I took the remote control, left Julian's art supplies and Charlotte's homework in plain sight, and scurried off to the kitchen. Once there, I borrowed a page from Day 1's playbook and ignored the sounds coming from the living room. This was no easy task.

By the time dinner was ready, the kids had calmed down. Charlotte had written her essay, and Julian was busy making a masterpiece with his markers. Surveying the scene, I understood what Hickem meant. Kids will resist change in very unpleasant ways, but you have to let them know you won't back down.

Day 7: Chill Out

Even God rested on the seventh day, right? You're probably thinking, "Ha! Moms never get to rest," which is true. I wasn't optimistic enough to believe that my kids would let me lie on the couch while they frolicked peacefully all day. Still, we had made amazing progress. So I put off doing the laundry, packed a picnic lunch, and took the kids to the park, where we spent the afternoon reading books, playing catch, having races, and not concentrating on anything except enjoying each other's company. And guess what? No whining, no fighting, no cranky Mommy. I'm sure I'll need to revisit each of this week's strategies repeatedly in the months ahead. But for now, I'm thrilled we all earned a day off for good behavior.

Originally published in the October 2011 issue of Parents magazine.

Ref:  http://www.parents.com/kids/discipline/strategies/7-easy-ways-to-fix-bad-behavior/

Healthy Wholesome Dating

A date is a planned activity that allows a young man and a young woman to get to know each other better. In cultures where dating is acceptable, it can help you learn and practice social skills, develop friendships, have wholesome fun, and eventually find an eternal companion.

You should not date until you are at least 16 years old. When you begin dating, go with one or more additional couples. Avoid going on frequent dates with the same person. Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet and can perhaps lead to immorality. Invite your parents to become acquainted with those you date.

Choose to date only those who have high moral standards and in whose company you can maintain your standards. Remember that a young man and a young woman on a date are responsible to protect each other’s honor and virtue.

Choice of Friends

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40

Everyone needs good and true friends. They will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. They will help you be a better person and will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards.

To have good friends, be a good friend. Show genuine interest in others; smile and let them know you care about them. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, and refrain from judging and criticizing those around you. Do not participate in any form of bullying. Make a special effort to be a friend to those who are shy or lonely, have special needs, or do not feel included.

As you seek to be a friend to others, do not compromise your standards. If your friends urge you to do things that are wrong, be the one to stand for the right, even if you stand alone. You may need to find other friends who will support you in keeping the commandments. Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you make these choices.

What is the a Family?

Being part of a family is a great blessing. Your family can provide you with companionship and happiness, help you learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and help you prepare for eternal life.

Strong families require effort. Your family will be blessed as you do your part to strengthen it. Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of family members. Many problems in the home come from family members speaking and acting selfishly or unkindly. Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel. Show love for your family members each day. Share your testimony with your family through words and actions. Your righteous example can make a difference in strengthening your family.

Honor your parents by showing love and respect for them. Obey them as they lead you in righteousness. Willingly help in your home. Participate in wholesome family activities and traditions. Join your family in family prayer, family scripture study, and family home evenings. Keeping these commandments strengthens and unifies families. If your family does not do these things together, pray and study the scriptures yourself. Your example may encourage your family members to join you.

Nice Motivation Quotes

Many years ago while I was studying overseas, a  friend gave me a baby milk bottle full of nice quotations.  Found it today while looking through my old stuffs.  Decided to share it here to give some motivation to everyone.

1.  Living a good life is like shaving... No matter how good you do it today, you still have to do it tomorrow.

2.  A snowflake is one of natures most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.

3.  We become what we think about most.

4.  Be yourself, but be your best self.

5.  Love is not blind, it sees more not less - but because it sees more, it is willing to see less.

6.  Like dreams, small creeks sometimes grow into large rivers.

7.  What is now proved was once only imagined.

8.  Those who love tell each other a thousand things without talking.

9.  Its easier to keep up than to catch up.

10.  What appears to be the end may really be a new beginning.

11.  The best of life is expressed in service to others.

12.  A true friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

13.

2010 Pre-School Halloween Celebration

As a Penguin Daddy, there is a high expectation to be very creative when comes to special occasions in school. This is what I did for my boys on their Pre-School Halloween Celebration in 2010.  One dressed up as Ultimate Swampfire and the other is the as Rath the Tiger alien.  Just not too long ago, I learnt to be a Balloon artist from YouTube videos for their school birthday party.  This is how I managed to safe some cost from hiring a professional balloon artist to entertain the kids.

Make All Your Pork Chops Look This Good

We’ll come out and say it: Cooking pork chops is not an easy task. But we promise—you can definitely cook a tender, juicy chop, says senior food editor Dawn Perry—as long as you avoid these eight common mistakes. Here’s her advice.

1. Pork is Pork is Pork 
This is true with all meat and fish, but especially with pork: There is a huge difference in taste between your typical grocery store pork and well-raised, well-fed heritage pork. It’s worth the extra couple bucks.Here’s why.

2. Boneless is Better 
Generally, we like our meat and poultry to be bone-in. There are a couple of reasons: First, it slows down the meat’s cooking, so it gives you a little more leeway to get a good, crispy sear on your chop. Second, the bone gives the meat a richer flavor. Yeah, you should keep that bone in there.

3. A Little Salt, a Little Pepper 
No. A LOT of salt. A LOT of pepper. As with all meat, you want to season that sucker so much that you can see the salt and pepper on the surface when you’re standing a couple feet away. This will make your crust incredibly flavorful—the combination of salt, caramelized meat, and fat will push your chop over the top.

SEE MORE: 25 Quick and Easy School Lunches to Pack for Your Kids

4. From Fridge to Frying Pan 
Let your chops sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before you begin to cook them. If the meat is too cold, the outside will overcook while the inside comes to the right temperature. Giving the pork a little time to warm up will ensure a nice crust on the outside, with a tender center. (Well, if you follow the next few pieces of advice, that is…)

5. Let That Pan Rip 
For chops, we like to get our pan screaming hot…then take it down to medium. That first blast of heat helps get a good golden crust. But, if you keep it that high, the chop won’t cook evenly through the middle. Medium heat helps keep the outer edges of the meat tender while the center reaches the perfect temperature.

6. Trust Your Recipe’s Cooking Time 
With all meat and poultry—but especially pork chops—use your thermometer to tell when the meat is done cooking. A recipe’s timing is usually a ballpark estimate. Cook your chop until it’s around 135 degrees, then transfer it to a cutting board—the residual heat will bring it to the USDA’s recommended 145 degrees. Pork is pretty easy to dry out, so making sure it’s not a degree over 145 is the best way to get juicy, tender meat.

7. Trim the Fat 
Most pork chops have a little layer of fat around the perimeter—take advantage of it! Instead of cutting it off before or after the chop is cooked, stand the chop on its side in the pan with your tongs and get that fat rendered, brown, and crispy. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

SEE MORE: 14 Butter Recipes to Consume with Wild Abandon

8. Dig Right In 
After you get your pork on the cutting board, don’t touch it for 10 minutes. If you cut into it right away, all its juices will run onto the board instead of getting redistributed into the meat. Don’t let all that delicious liquid run away!

PAN-ROASTED BRINED PORK CHOPrecipe by Brian Leth, photo by Romulo Yanes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon juniper berries
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise, plus 2 unpeeled cloves for basting
• 2 large sprigs thyme
• 1 2-inch-thick bone-in pork chop (2 ribs; about 1 1/4 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed or vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Flaky or coarse sea salt

Preparation:
Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add kosher salt, sugar, juniper berries, peppercorns, halved head of garlic, and 1 thyme sprig; stir to dissolve salt and sugar. Transfer to a medium bowl and add 5 cups ice cubes. Stir until brine is cool. Add pork chop; cover and chill for at least 8 and up to 12 hours.

SEE MORE: The Normcore Diet: 10 Foods for People Who Don’t Want to Stand Out

Preheat oven to 450°. Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Remove chop from brine; pat dry. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large cast-iron or other oven-proof skillet. Cook chop until beginning to brown, 3-4 minutes. Turn and cook until second side is beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Keep turning chop every 2 minutes until both sides are deep golden brown, 10-12 minutes total.

Transfer skillet to oven and roast chop, turning every 2 minutes to prevent it from browning too quickly, until an instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center of meat registers 135°, about 14 minutes. (Chop will continue to cook during basting and resting.)

Carefully drain fat from skillet and place over medium heat. Add butter, 2 unpeeled garlic cloves, and remaining thyme sprig; cook until butter is foamy. Carefully tip skillet and, using a large spoon, baste chop repeatedly with butter until butter is brown and smells nutty, 2-3 minutes.

Transfer pork chop to prepared rack and let rest, turning often to ensure juices are evenly distributed, for 15 minutes. Cut pork from bones, slice, and sprinkle with sea salt.

Ref:  https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-food/make-all-your-pork-chops-look-this-good-205039968.html