Playing with your children is a natural tool to build resiliency.

Play is an important part of growing up healthy. It contributes to the social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being of children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed concern that when academic achievement is emphasized over recess and regular physical activity, children living in poverty may have the most to lose.

PositiveTip: Participate in playful, physical activities with your children to help them become tomorrow's productive citizens.

Young children learn best from interactions with humans not TVs or computers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a policy statement in 1999 that addressed only TV exposure by children younger than 2 years old. It has now updated this statement based on new evidence to include video programs and games. Key findings include the fact that evidence does not support the educational value of even educational video programs and heavy media exposure in this age group can delay language development.

PositiveTip: Unstructured play time and interaction with humans best facilitates creativity, problem-solving, reasoning and motor skills in toddlers.

For healthy brain development infants and toddlers need at least 12-14 hours of sleep daily.

The American Academy Sleep Medicine recommends that infants get a minimum of 14 hours of sleep per day and toddlers 12 to 14 hours for healthy development. Parents are urged to make this a priority in starting their child’s health habits on the right foot. Even if your toddler fusses in an attempt to stay up, stick with it until it is a habit.

PositiveTip: Young children need their sleep! If you struggle in accomplishing this, check out these excellent tips.

Toddlers without TVs in their rooms experience more weekly outings and have lower risk of obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control and the Oregon Public Health Division has revealed that almost one in five two year olds has a television in their bedroom.

These children watch more than two hours of programming every day. Excessive exposure of infants to television is associated with impaired cognitive, language, and emotional development as well as impaired sleep schedules and increased risk of obesity. The study showed that infants without TVs in their rooms were much more likely to experience 4 or more outings away from home each week.