1-2-3 Magic: Parenting Tips

The prevalence of childhood obesity worldwide has shown a sharp increase in the last several decades. Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat that is associated with serious health risks, such as heart problems, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. In the U.S. currently, about 14% of 2-5-year-olds, 18% of 6-11-year-olds, and 21% of 12-19-year-olds qualify as obese. Unfortunately, obesity has a strong tendency to continue or "track" into adulthood.

Today we're talking about what's causing it and what you can do at home to fight or prevent childhood obesity.

In 1-2-3 Magic, Dr. Phelan talks about the three jobs that parents have:

1. Controlling Obnoxious Behavior
2. Encouraging Good Behavior
3. Strengthening Your Relationship with Your Kids

Parenting job #3 is so important because it's the one that is going to make your job as a parent more fun! Because kids are fun. They're cute, they're energetic, they have funny imaginations, and the stronger your realtionship with them is, the more you get to enjoy those aspects of their personalities instead of worrying about their behavior.

Ah, the teenager. That curious creature who used to be your sweet, cuddly, chatterbox child is now a sometimes-sullen almost-adult. What happened? Why did they change?

Teens are looking for independence and a lot of times parents have a hard time giving that to them, whether because they actually don't trust their teens, or because they still see their teen as a child. And believe us, your teenager knows. And they don't like it.