“Prevention is the best cure” – you’ve probably heard this saying. Fortunately, when it comes to children and health, there are simple prevention measures that can help many children to avoid physical and mental health issues.

Social Play – Children learn social skills by playing with other children. The pandemic has isolated many children and now is the time to remind parents of the importance of social play. You can suggest playdates with family members, friends, neighbors, and other children in their child care/preschool, church or other communities. Parent Participation-style classes can introduce parents to other families with young children. Parents can also look for informal interactions with other children at local parks and libraries.
Exercise – Young children need to move often, every day, to be healthy. This can be free and unstructured, like playing at home or on a play structure, or more formal like a Parks and Recreation class.
Nature Exploration – Nature is calming and soothing to the nervous system and is a free way for children to use their imagination and get moving. Remind parents that time spent at a park, beach, or nature trail will help every aspect of their child’s development, from motor skills to problem solving to communication skills.
