September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September is National Childhood Obesity Month

by Gordon Echtenkamp

Over the past few decades, childhood obesity rates in the United States have skyrocketed, increasing more than fourfold among those ages 6 to 11. More than 23 million children and teenagers in the United States ages 2 to 19 are obese or overweight putting them at early risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even stroke. If America’s trend continues at its current pace, all 50 states could have obesity rates above 44 percent by 2030, according to a new report from Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and according to the same report, at the current rate of weight gain, by 2030, 57.2 percent of Texans will be obese. The good news is we can do something about it.

Make it a family effort. Setting a good example is the best way to reinforce the importance of exercise to your child. For instance, you could take the whole family on a weekend day trip to a state or national park and go hiking. If you don’t feel like going that far, get creative – transform your backyard or a nearby park into an obstacle course and compete in Family Olympics. When your child sees you participating in and enjoying regular exercise, they’ll be more likely to pick up the habit.

The Saving Seed: Growing a Financially Healthy Family Tree

by Liz Mangelsdorf

“We must give to others and the world.  It is not ours to own and we must leave a positive impression as we pass by on our journey.”

Local entrepreneur, mother and community leader takes her passion to the presses.  Ashley Parks, CFP®, has released her new book: The Saving Seed: Growing a Financially Healthy Family Tree to help families and communities uncover what financial roots they have and how to model positive financial behaviors with their children.

Ashley is actively involved in her community and feels deeply that we are all products of our surroundings.  We all have a personal root system that has been developing throughout our lives.  Ashley’s career has offered her amazing insight into the personal lives of individuals that she comes in contact with on a daily basis.  That insight, along with her own personal journey, spurred her to put her passion on paper.  The stories and personal experiences over her career motivated her to write a book geared towards helping families gain not only personal well-being, but financial well-being too.  The Saving Seed is Ashley’s gift to others.  Her philosophy on life is one of becoming self and becoming greater than our temporal world suggests.  “What can we do that will positively impact others and allow us to grow?”

How to Teach Children About Money Management

Kids and Money Management

Crafty Ways to Teach Your Children to Save, Spend and Give

 

Teaching children about money management is an amazing gift a parent can give.  Make it fun and creative for a win-win!  Starting around age three, a child can start to grasp the concept of allowance.  This is NOT money we just give them.  They must actually do something to earn it.  The seeds you’re planting are work ethic, responsibility and persistency.  Who wouldn’t want their children to learn those big three lessons?  This is where it all begins.  Let your child know that you’d really love some help around the house and that they can earn some money by helping out.  That money can be set aside in one container for fun things like toys and games.  A portion of it will be put in a container and saved for something they want in the future.  Help them think of ideas as what that may be.  Maybe it’s a more expensive toy or a trip to the Zoo.  The last part will be put into a container to be given to other people who need it.  Just like sharing toys, it’s important to share money with others who need it.  Help them picture the place the money would go.  Maybe it’s a food bank, a religious organization or an animal rescue organization.  By helping your child visualize what the money in each container will be used for, it gives them a clearer motivation for earning the money and saving it.