How do you raise Happy, Healthy Children?

    Soon after purchasing our 1st Playstation i realized this little box was a part time babysitter. The kids could sit for hours in front of the tv playing their games. I wondered if maybe this was a mistake.

Am i spending enough quality time with my children? Do I allow them to spend too much time in front of the tv? Are the shows they watch and the games they play helping them grow in positive, healthy directions? Are they enjoying plenty of outdoor fun?

 Do  kids even go outside and play any more? In the days before every home had 3 tvs and an assortment of gaming options, children tended to head outdoors on hot Summer days.

If you ever find yourself wondering the same - you might want to check out this interesting piece about a balanced approach to raising healthy, happy children.

Lessons for Healthy Children

What lessons might we share with our youth to best prepare them as they grow up?

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" 1 John 3: 17-18

And more thoughts - an excerpt from an old French work on Love and Devotion:

Duty Towards My Neighbor
GOOD EXAMPLE.
By modest demeanor and simple dress.

By a smiling face and pleasing manner.

Always striving to give pleasure.

Faithfully fulfilling every duty.
GOOD WORDS.
Zealous without affectation, encouraging, consoling, peaceful, joyful, loving. These are possible every day.
GOOD DEEDS.
Service rendered by alms, by industry, by influence.

Ills remedied, by excusing, justifying, protecting, defending, concealing faults and mistakes; if possible, by repairing them.

Joys provided, for the mind, by a joyous manner; for the heart, by loving thanks; for the soul, by a word of Heaven.
My Duty Towards Myself
COURAGE.
In trials and adversity, disturbance, sickness, failure, humiliations.

Worries that trouble without reason.

Ill temper controlled, in order not to pain others.

After failures, to begin again.

In temptations, to withstand them.
ORDER AND METHOD.
In my occupation, each at its appointed hour.

In my recreation.

In all material things, for my benefit.

Shunning scruples and constraint as much as caprice and folly.
NOURISHMENT.
Pious thoughts, read, meditated upon, and sometimes written.

Books that elevate and excite love for all that is good and lovely.

Conversations that refresh, rejoice, and cheer; walks that expand the mind, as well as strengthen the body.

Look upon yourself as the servant of all, but without ostentation, or their having any knowledge of it."

May your children always enjoy helping others!

To your children's health!