Video Game health hazards: is your child at risk?

Parents, is your child's obsession with video games hurting their health?
Watch this video to see what happened to a child whose gaming habit hurt him:



Even if your kid is on vacation, even if you can see any justifiable reason to let them have a video game binge, consider making your child agree to a few health rules before they settle in to their games:
** They must agree to get outside to play for an hour or more before they play indoors
** For every two hours of indoor games, they must spend at least 30 minutes outdoors
* They must sip water during their gaming (this is better than soda or other extra-calorie drinks, plus it makes them move because they must need to go to the bathroom)
* They must maintain their schedule of healthy meals with their family
* They cannot snack on chips or candy while they play video games
* They must obey their regular sleep schedule
* Reading should accompany regular gaming: at least one hour of reading per hour of gaming is recommended

Of course, these guidelines apply to vacation times or weekends. During the school-week and in the evenings, gaming time should be minimized. Outdoor play, sports, homework, time with friends and family, meals, sleep, reading, and cultural arts should be their top priorities, which...don't leave time for video games.

Holiday Stress Coping: grow your personal skills this holiday season

Before you spend this holiday season stressed out over money, relatives and family, jobs, and eating, consider slowing your stress down. You can gain valuable personal insights if you first take a few moments to prepare yourself.

This video demonstrates how people are affected by the holidays, which problems are stressful, and how to cope:



Here are more helpful tips for making this season one of personal growth and development:

Consume Less-
Making a conscious decision to consume less can have enormous positive effects on your soul. Eating less, buying less, and using less gives you peace, and a healthy "sense of place" in the world. You feel grateful for what you have, which makes you feel a deeper sense of peace. Your bank account will thank you, too, which then will ease financial stresses.
If feeling more peaceful weren't enough, a huge benefit of lighter consumption is Knowing that You Didn't Gain Weight over the Holidays! Maintaining your usual weight, or even losing weight, will leave you with reduced stress and more self-confidence. Amidst all the food and gluttony, take a stand and consume less.
Consider reviewing this article and video about an English man who is taking a light-consumption attitude:
http://higher-lifestyle.blogspot.com/2008/11/food-and-eating-holidays-skew.html

Get Outdoors-
Being outside will always lift your spirits. Listening to birds chirping, feeling a breezy wind, watching snow fall, or hearing a trickling stream can have a magical, calming effect on your soul. Nature instills peace.
Also, outdoor activities, like playing in your local park, can be free or inexpensive. Instead of stressing about buying movie tickets for the whole family, plan some time outdoors.