GEt outsidE
Humans are animals, and animals often suffer depression and illness in
captivity. So leave the dishes in the sink for now and get the family outside,
ideally into natural surroundings. A study published by the Journal of Environmental Psychology had students take walks through hallways and treelined paths, view alternating cityscape and landscape images and imagine
themselves in scenes both sedentary and active. Those who spent time or
imagined themselves in natural settings consistently felt more energetic,
and researchers noted that spending just 20 minutes a day surrounded by
nature raises vitality levels.
turN oFF tHE scrEENs
Powering down isn’t just important for the
environment — it’s vital for your family’s
health and imagination. Even when families carve out together-time — a rarity
these days — what good is it if everyone
is buried in a screen? The Public Health
Agency of Canada recommends less
than two hours of screen time per day for
children. Unfortunately, the Government
of Alberta’s 2009 Report Card on Physical
Activity for Children and Youth found less
than 10 percent of kids are meeting this
guideline, with many children spending
closer to six hours in front of a glowing
screen. A recent article in San Francisco
magazine described a growing trend of
Silicon Valley visionaries sending their
children to decidedly unplugged Waldorf
Schools and banishing technology at
home to reconnect and encourage self-driven creativity.
Ask For HElp BEForE
proBlEMs sEt iN
Many of us wait for problems to strike before
looking for outside help, but knowing
what resources are available to you can
help parents deal with everyday issues
and keep smaller issues from escalating.
Albertans have an enviable number of
crisis, relationship and parenting services
available to them. Edmontonians and
Calgarians facing depression, loneliness,
work stress, addiction or relationship
problems can simply dial 2-1-1 for 24-hour
guidance. Across Alberta, the Kids Help
Phone ( kidshelpphone.ca, 1-800-668-
6868) provides children emotional support
for dealing with a death, family break-up
and any other trauma. The Calgary Coun-
selling Centre is a non-profit organization
that offers sessions to help children and
parents adjust to changes as a result of
separation and divorce (calgarycounsel-
ling.com, 403-691-5991). Alberta Health
Services offers clinics and counselling for
parenting, anxiety, depression and other
mental hardships, as well as over-the-
phone advice and referrals to helpful
resources. Find out more at albertahealth-
services.ca or by calling HealthLink at
1-866-408-LINK (5465). a
rEAd toGEtHEr
It can be hard to find a single activity that
engages family members equally. No matter
the age, or the interest, there is a book out
there that can fill the lazy hours of a winter’s
day. reading to babies and children helps
develop to language skills and promotes
literacy, but the benefits of reading together
are not limited to reading “to” children.
When kids of all ages see people reading
around them, they are encouraged to develop a greater interest in their own reading.
Take a family trip to the library or
bookstore, or create a special spot for books
and reading in your home. Talk about what
everyone is reading and share your favourite
books with each other.
sEE your doctor As NEEdEd
See your doctor periodically, based on your
age and your medical conditions, says Dr.
Cathy MacLean, head of Family Medicine
at the University of Calgary. For some
people it’s every year, while for others it
will be every two or three years. Those with
ongoing or chronic health concerns may
need to see a doctor several times a year.
“It’s good to have a conversation with your
doctor about how often to come in,” says
MacLean. She also recommends having
a conversation about prevention and
screening. Her other tips: pay attention to
your health, know your family’s medical
history and work with your doctor to
achieve your best health.
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