Sudbury Lincoln CRANE Newsletter
December 5

FEATURED TOPIC: HEALTHY HABITS

As the weather continues to get colder and families are spending more time indoors, it is important for parents and guardians to keep their children active and practice healthy habits.

To help your child begin practicing healthy habits at a young age, be a role model and make healthy choices of your own. The American Heart Association recommends the following tips to get started:

Be a good role model – You don’t have to be perfect all the time, but if kids see you trying to eat right and getting physically active, they’ll take notice of your efforts. You’ll send a message that good health is important to your family.
Keep things positive – Kid’s don’t like to hear what they can’t do, tell them what they can do instead. Keep it fun and positive. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a good self-image.
Get the whole family moving – Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.
Be realistic – Setting realistic goals and limits are key to adopting any new behavior. Small steps and gradual changes can make a big difference in your health over time, so start small and build up.
Limit TV, video game and computer time – These habits lead to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking, which increase risks for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Encourage physical activities that they’ll really enjoy – Every child is unique. Let your child experiment with different activities until they find something that they really love doing. They’ll stick with it longer if they love it.
Pick truly rewarding rewards – Don’t reward children with TV, video games, candy or snacks for a job well done. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.
Make dinnertime a family time – When everyone sits down together to eat, there’s less chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking too much. Get your kids involved in cooking and planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits together and the quality time with the family will be an added bonus.
Make a game of reading food labels – The whole family will learn what’s good for their health and be more conscious of what they eat. It’s a habit that helps change behavior for a lifetime. Learn more about reading nutrition labels.
Stay involved – Be an advocate for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at school. Make sure your children’s healthcare providers are monitoring cardiovascular indicators like BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol.

For more information and resources, visit the AHA website or the Alliance for a Healthier Generation website.

To help keep your children active and encourage healthy habits, there are several local recreational resources for parents and guardians to consider, including the Sudbury Family Network, Thrive Support & Advocacy, the Sudbury Park and Recreation Department, and the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, which offer programs year-round.

To learn more about Sudbury Public Schools Wellness programs, individuals can visit the District website to view the School Wellness Policy. Additionally, community members are encouraged to contact the District Wellness Coordinator to learn about the School Wellness Advisory Committee activities and other ways you can be involved in supporting healthy habits within the Sudbury learning community.

Next Newsletter Topic: Managing Stress

UPCOMING EVENTS

Open Invitation: Regulating Our Brains and Bodies for Learning
Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m. @ Milestones

“My Hero Brother” Movie Screening
Sunday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. @ West Newton Cinema

Parent/Professional Advocacy League Statewide
Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. @ Plymouth Church in Framingham

NAMI Basics

NAMI Basics is a 6 week education program for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents living with emotional and behavioral issues. NAMI Basics is taught by understanding teachers who are parents or caregivers of children with similar issues. Taking NAMI Basics will give you the tools you will need to help you make the best decisions possible for the care of your child. You will learn communication tips, how to problem-solve and the skills to help you cope with the emotional impact of caring for your challenging child. You will find out about the IEP process, insurance, benefits, diagnoses and treatment.

The course consists of six classes, each lasting for 2 ½ hours. Classes may be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per week for three weeks to accommodate hectic schedules. All instruction materials are FREE to participants.

Please contact the teacher listed to get details. Preregistration is required since space is limited. If you’re interested in taking a class, and none are available in your area, please contact Director of Family Programs, Ilya Cherkasov at 617-580-8541.

Interested in becoming a NAMI Basics teacher? Please contact Ilya Cherkasov at 617-580-8541.

Schedule of Classes:

OTHER RESOURCES

William James College INTERFACE Referral Service is a mental health and wellness referral line available to families in the Sudbury and Lincoln Communities as well as Boston families with children in the Sudbury and Lincoln schools. This free and confidential service is available to residents of all ages in member towns.

Callers will be asked to describe their need and provide insurance, appointment time and location preferences. INTERFACE staff will then use their extensive database to find a licensed therapist or provider match with the appropriate specialization. They are able to make referrals in the Sudbury, Lincoln and Boston areas. INTERFACE is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 888-244-6843 (toll free).

Do you appreciate CRANE’s services? If you do, then we need your help!

Our services are completely free, but they are not cost free. Please consider a donation to support CRANE. Donations of any size are helpful and very much appreciated!