• Mom, Dad, and Marketing Messages
  “Can I have that?” “I need one of those.” “All my friends are going!” Sound familiar? If you’re the parent of a teen or tween, you may already know that marketing and media can influence young people’s choices about what to buy, do, or believe. But just how much are youth affected by marketing for alcohol and tobacco?
• Selecting a Child Care Provider
  Caring for children takes lots of time, energy, patience, and love. When you need quality child care, finding someone who is a good match for your child and your family is important. Young children are always watching and learning from adults. Parents are a child’s first teachers, but child care providers become important role models.
• Tobacco Use Affects Families
  We are all affected by tobacco —even if we don’t smoke. Secondhand smoke, air pollution, and the high costs of health care that come with tobacco use affect our families.
• Play, Downtime, and Your Child’s Health
  Children (and their parents) are busier today than ever before and that’s why a little downtime—time with family or in creative play—goes a long way.
• The Importance of Journaling
  Keeping a personal journal is an easy and healthy way for people to express themselves. Journaling can help young people by providing a safe space for them to write down their thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Whatever your child would like to include is OK. Encourage your child to write whatever comes to mind.
• We All Have Mental Health; Time To End the Stigma
  Each one of us has opinions, attitudes, physical health, and mental health. Just like physical health, a person’s mental health can range from good to poor.
• The Importance of Family Mealtime
  What's dinnertime like in your home? Does everyone heat up their own meal in the microwave at different times and retire to their own corner of the house? Eating dinner together as a family has become a lost art. A lot of emphasis is placed on what we eat, but not on how we eat.
• Wising Up to Media
  Today’s youth receive an unending flood of messages from a growing number of sources. For many kids, electronic communication is a full-time job. Besides competing with activities such as homework, physical activity, and family life, the many hours kids spend gazing at screens and tapping keys are likely to shape their tastes, beliefs, and behavior.
• Make the Most of Red Ribbon Week 2007
  During National Red Ribbon Week, October 23-28, 2007, millions of young people and adults will support healthy lifestyles by wearing or displaying a red ribbon. This nationwide celebration has become a major force for raising public awareness and mobilizing communities to combat underage drinking and illegal drug use among youth.
• Elementary School Success Helps Keep Kids Drug Free
  Most parents don’t realize that the benefits of getting good grades can affect more than their kids’ future education and careers. Kids who do well in school are more likely to be drug free. It’s a great reason to help your child thrive in his studies and develop a positive attitude toward learning.

* We refer to a child as "him" in some places and "her" in others. We do this for easier reading. All information applies to both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.