| When it comes to doing things to make your family | | | | these things now, your family members will continue |
| healthier, closer, and safer, you may not be certain | | | | to be green when they have families of their own. |
| where to start. After all, if your family tends to do | | | | 4. Get the whole family active together. Exercise is |
| their own thing, it can be hard to bring them all | | | | very important, especially for children and teens. With |
| together. This is especially true in today's incredibly | | | | teen obesity on the rise, it's important to get the |
| busy world-some of us don't even have time to get | | | | kids away from the computer and television and |
| our whole family together for dinner once a week. | | | | outdoors. This doesn't have to be any major kind of |
| But the following five things can help bring your | | | | activity. Just going for a walk around the |
| family back together and improve their health and | | | | neighborhood three times a week is a good amount |
| safety. | | | | of exercise. You can also look for family classes at |
| 1. Declare a moratorium on takeout food. Eating fast | | | | your local community center. Some centers have |
| food is not healthy in any way at all. Even | | | | family yoga or basic exercise classes. Others have |
| sandwiches or salads from fast food places may not | | | | mother/daughter and father/son activities. |
| be as healthy as those made at home. It's too easy | | | | 5. Teach your kids to defend themselves. This is |
| to decide to order pizza or Chinese food instead of | | | | incredibly important for your family. You need to |
| taking the time to cook, but if you want your family | | | | teach your children how to deal with strangers and |
| to really be healthy, you need to avoid these foods. | | | | with those who attack them. Just like with exercise |
| In fact, you can bring your family together by | | | | programs, local community centers often offer self |
| cooking together. Give each family member a task | | | | defense classes. These classes are excellent in |
| like making the salad, cutting vegetables, or setting | | | | teaching your children how to protect themselves, |
| the table. While you may not be able to do this | | | | but remember that you also need to talk to your |
| every night, don't let anyone make an excuse to | | | | kids about being safe. Remind them that they need |
| miss these family meals. | | | | to avoid talking to strangers and that they should |
| 2. Encourage everyone to have an independent | | | | never get into a car with anyone they don't know. |
| hobby and lead by example. While this may sound like | | | | As you can see, it can be possible to get your entire |
| the opposite of achieving your goal of bringing your | | | | family together for at least one of these activities. |
| family together, having an independent hobby is | | | | While it may seem difficult at first, start small-try to |
| something every family member should have. This | | | | do one family activity per week. Start out with |
| gives each family member something to do by | | | | dinner. Then add in a family exercise period the next |
| themselves, but it also gives them something to | | | | week. The third week, start a recycling program. |
| share. You can lead by example by taking up a | | | | Then start self defense classes. Have each family |
| hobby. If you enjoy sewing, you can sew clothing or | | | | member start sharing their hobbies. After a few |
| bags for each of your family members. If you're a | | | | months, you'll find that your family not only has |
| movie buff, you can plan movie nights. Enjoy | | | | learned a lot and is healthier but that they also enjoy |
| painting? Paint a family portrait. | | | | spending time together and actually look forward to |
| 3. Make green living a part of your life. Help your | | | | family activities. Of course, this won't happen right |
| family protect the environment by living green. Teach | | | | away. Be ready for some resistance, especially if you |
| your children about recycling and about using | | | | have teens who think they are too busy or too cool |
| products that are made with a minimum of packaging. | | | | to spend time with their families. Try to get them to |
| You can also save on money by regulating how much | | | | provide ideas for family night-involving all family |
| energy you use. Change out your traditional light | | | | members and letting everyone have a say in what |
| bulbs. Stop taking any magazine or newspaper that | | | | the family does will make the activities much more |
| you don't read, and walk or take public transportation | | | | appealing. |
| when you can. By getting into the habit of doing | | | | |