The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, examined the sleep routines of 337 US preschool children and their families, taking into account socioeconomic characteristics and observing the influence of TV time and meal routines.

Researchers considered four routines protective against childhood obesity including limited TV time, not having a bedroom TV, quality family meal time and adequate sleep.

Yet sleep was the only factor that made a difference in the results.

Children who slept 10 hours per day or more were less likely to suffer obesity than those who did not, regardless of the other protective routines.

Given the importance of sleep, the most likely factor in a child’s risk for obesity was the parental sleep routine.

In a chain reaction, parents who slept inadequately had children who did the same and were therefore more likely to be overweight.

“Parents should make being well rested a family value and a priority,” said Barbara H. Fiese, director of the U of I’s Family Resiliency Center and Pampered Chef Endowed Chair. “We viewed how long parents slept and how long children slept as part of a household routine and found that they really did go together.”

Sufficient sleep has long been linked to healthy weight management and children are hardly new study subjects.

A recent study by the University College London found that 16-month-old toddlers who slept less than 10 hours per day increased their calorie consumption by 10 percent over those who slept 13 hours per day.

A 2009 study by the European Centre of Taste Science in Dijon in central France found participants were likely to consume up to 22 percent more calories than normal after a bad night’s sleep.

(AFP Relaxnews)

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Decisions such as purchasing goods, saving and investing can all be executed correctly if there is a sound financial literacy base.

The sooner one acquires these skills the better, so when better to start than when your kids are young. There are a different and appropriate terms and concepts to introduce to children at different ages.

“Sometimes parents are hesitant to talk about money to their kids because they feel that they’re not financial experts, their children are still too young to understand financial concepts or their children might make the same money mistakes as them.  However, there are different basic concepts and practices that you can teach your kids at different ages that will equip them with the knowledge to make sound financial decisions in the future,” says Eunice Sibiya, head of FNB Consumer Education.

Two to Five

Children in this age group are too young to understand concepts such as finance, saving, budgeting etc, but there are opportunities to introduce basic financial concepts to little ones.

“Many of us have been out shopping, in a queue and waiting to pay and there’s a child wanting sweets or toys. This is a good time to introduce some basic money concepts,” adds Sibiya.

Children at this age can understand that you need money to buy things such as ice cream or clothes. So if you don’t have money, you can’t buy things. Another good tip is to explain to your little one that the only way to earn money is to work, and encourage them to think of ways to earn money, like helping with chores.

Sibiya says, “Explain the difference between “wants” and “needs”.  While you’re shopping, point out needs such as soap, food or toilet paper, and describe “wants” as optional items like biscuits, sweets or chocolate.”

Six to Ten

Children in this age group are more aware of money and excited to have it in hand.  They might receive money as birthday presents or in the form of pocket money. It is in this age group where parents can teach them the principles of saving and money management. They could even have their own bank account, and manage it, to some extent, but only under the guidance of their parents.

At this age, children can make decisions with money, compare prices and learn how to save.

“Teaching children to save isn’t as hard as you might think. Children have an amazing ability to grasp concepts, especially when you turn a concept into a physical action like having a piggy bank. Taking a coin or two and dropping it into a piggy bank regularly, is the first step to educate your child on the importance of saving a portion of their money instead of spending it all,” says Sibiya.

Eleven to Fifteen

Your child can now understand more complex concepts about finance.

“Teach your children that they need to save a portion of any money they get, whether it’s birthday money or money they received for doing chores around the house.  When they reach their savings goal, they can be rewarded with accordingly.  Show them how their money grows when they save, and think about matching your child’s savings to encourage them to save more,” says Sibiya.

Sixteen to Eighteen

By this stage, it is important for your child to have a firm understanding of how money works. It is in this age group that they would want to take ownership of their money and they would want to transact on their own. It is important to chat to your children about the responsibility of having money. Parental guidance is still needed to prepare your child to become a financially responsible individual.

“At this stage, introduce investment concepts and the importance of financial discipline.  Children at this age should also be working according to a budget, and be able to manage it with guidance from parents,” says Sibiya.

Eighteen and Over

Children at this age should be as financially independent as possible.

“If you’ve done your job correctly, your child will be able to manage their finances on a day-to-day basis, have a bank account and be able to use it responsibly, have a savings and use this for basic necessities, not you,” says Sibiya.

“Having a child is a life-long commitment, and avoiding the topic of money and financial management will only do your child and yourself a disservice. The best thing you can do for your child is to raise an independent and confident individual who is financially responsible,” concludes Sibiya.

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1. When you return home with the new baby, present her with a gift from her new sibling. A doll and accessories is always a good idea.
2. Your toddler will play up and demand your attention just when you can’t give it, so expect her demands to intensify, especially if you have just sat down to feed the baby! To the best of your ability always attend to her needs first – this will make her feel secure.
3. Have a pile of storybooks handy and place one of her little chairs alongside your feeding chair, so that she can sit with you and read a story when you feed the baby. This is a good habit to start, and she will start to look forward to this special time.
4. When visitors arrive to see the new baby, let her show them to the nursery, and allow her to help open the baby’s gift, this way she will feel included.
5. Avoid saying “don’t touch the baby” too much. She will cotton on that touching the baby gets your attention and will continue to do it. If possible ignore (unless she is feeding the baby a niknak, or holding him upside down!) Never leave her alone with the new baby.
6. Use every bit of help offered.
7. Take the phone off the hook when you are resting, or at least invest in a portable phone to keep alongside you.
8. Limit visitors to a specific time of the day, so that you are not inundated all day. Visitors, while having your best interests at heart can kill you with kindness!
9. Stick to your toddlers routine scrupulously – it will make the whole family feel more secure.
10. Expect a regression in your toddler’s behaviour. She may demand a bottle or dummy again, or start wetting her bed.       Keep calm, give her what she asks for, and know that it will pass with time.
11. Try to spend some special time alone with your toddler every day, even if it means quiet time in the garden for twenty minutes.
12. Look after your relationship with your partner – remember that you are in this together.

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• Memory
• Test grades
• School
• Attendance
• Psycho-social function
• Mood

Meal Planning Ideas

Choose one option per meal and one mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack.

 Healthy diet tips for your toddler

1. Swap cold drinks for milk, flavoured milk or drinking yoghurt to increase dairy intake.
2. Include fish in children’s meals by serving fish fingers, fish cakes or steamed fish flaked into rice.
3. Prepare baked beans on toast with grated cheese.
4. Serve raw vegetables (carrots, baby tomatoes, cucumber) with a flavoured dip like mashed avocado.
5. Add pureed carrots to tomatoe-based pasta sauces or finely chop vegetables and hide them on home-baked pizzas, soups, mince dishes and casseroles.
6. Vegetable kebabs, bananas in their skins and mealies are great for braais.
7. Blend fruit into a smoothie by mixing banana with some frozen mixed berries and a dollop of yoghurt – a nutritious drink for children of all ages.
8. Remember to monitor water intake – freeze a bottle of water or diluted juice the night before packing their lunch – it should stay cold for most of the day.

Use fats and sugars sparingly: children shouldn’t have a very low-fat diet, they need the same balance of fats as adults. Restrict animal fats and choose plant oils such as olive or sunflower oil, tub margarines, avocado, peanut butter and nuts. Sugar can be part of a balanced eating plan, but in moderation. Restrict sweets and chocolates to after-meal treats and provide milk, water or diluted fruit juices rather than soft drinks.

About the Author: Advice, tips and meal plans provided by Pick n Pay’s resident Dietician who can be contacted on the Health Hotline. Visit http://www.picknpay.co.za/healthy-recipes for recipes and more.

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