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June 20th is the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day! And while goofy ties and knick-knacks are fun, don’t forget it’s a celebration of fatherhood. So, whatever you do, just make sure the guy who’s been there knows how much he means to you.

Now, if you’re like Sonora Dodd (quick history lesson), it’s easy to find reasons to celebrate Dad. But it’s not always easy to decide on a gift. Need some ideas? Whether you’re thinking homemade or you have a present-buying budget there are nifty gifts for every kind of Dad.

Still not sure what he’d like? Let him know you care with some wellness tips any dad will appreciate:

The Daddy to-do list on health

Guiltless grill tips

Make a heart-healthy action plan

Dads — looking for a little help? Find resources, advice and support just for you.

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Do you have little ones between the age of 1 and 4? Let them make a splash this summer! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says it’s okay for kids as young as 1 to take swim lessons and that learning early may help reduce the risk of drowning.

Previous guidelines suggested that kids shouldn’t start lessons until after 4 years of age. This was due to a concern that parents and tots could develop a false sense of security. Of course, whether your child’s kicking their feet like a pro or not, parents need to take as many precautions as possible.

If your kiddo is ready to jump in, the AAP has updated the list of pool safety guidelines so that everyone can have some fun in the sun. Just a few of them include:

• Supervision, Supervision, Supervision
• Pools/spas should be enclosed with a four-sided fence (at least 4 ft high) with a latching gate.
• Know how to perform CPR and other rescue skills and have a phone handy at all times
• While it’s the law for public pools to have safe drain covers, make sure your own pool has one too

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A few months ago, Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” campaign to help kids get active and healthy. Now, the Childhood Obesity Task Force is making some recommendations on where to begin.

The goal: to return to an obesity rate of 5 percent by 2030. This won’t be a small feat either. Almost 32 percent of kids between the age of 2 to 19 are overweight or obese.

This means 1 in every 3 kids has a much greater risk of developing diabetes, heart problems and other diseases. But with a few healthy habits, more information, better access and affordable nutrition, it can be done.

The task force has come up with over 70 recommendations, many of which we can start doing today, to help kids eat right and stay active:

• A healthy start: prenatal care, support, and quality child care with healthy food and activities
• Empowering parents and caregivers with accurate information and healthy choices, products, and improved services
• Provide healthy food and nutrition education (remember making food pyramids?) at school
• Improve access to healthy, affordable food
• Offer quality physical education, recess, access to parks, rec centers, and more in- and after-school activities

Whether your kids are overweight or not, there are lots of fun, budget-friendly ways to help them eat right and get them moving. You never know, you may improve your own health while you’re at it.

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Postpartum depression isn’t just for new moms – a recent study says 10 percent of dads get postpartum too. Of course, when both parents face hormonal changes, stress and a lack of sleep, the joys of a new baby are also likely to bring a lot of other emotions with it.

Unfortunately, moms tend to have more support and a better network to help them identify depression and cope. There’s also a tendency for men to avoid the doctor and miss out on pediatric visits, where parents are often screened. This means depressed dads are more likely to slip through the cracks which can have a serious impact on a developing child.

As we learn more about the risks and need for early treatment, both parents should be able to recognize the warning signs of postpartum depression:

• Lack of interest in your baby
• Negative feelings towards your baby
• Worrying about hurting your baby
• Lack of concern for yourself
• Loss of pleasure
• Lack of energy and motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, or are concerned for your partner, contact your doctor immediately.

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It’s heating up out there, school’s almost out and folks are still pinching pennies. But no need to sweat just yet. Make life a little easier with a few tips on how to Spring into Summer.

• Grow your career
• Eat, feel and live healthier
• Save your money
• A healthy home is a happy home
• Get a head start at school

Whether you’re single or looking for family summer fun, you can find events, hotels, etc. that won’t hurt your credit but will keep everyone busy.

Trying to find something for the kids to do? Think you can’t afford camp? Think again – let the kids have some fun and give yourself a break, find out how to choose and afford summer camp.

Courtesy of John Steven Fernandez (via Flickr)

In school halls around the country a trend is growing. But this time it’s not a silly fad that will likely peter out. They’re calling it “bullycide” – a term describing the growing number of kids who are stopping their bullies by taking their own life.

If you can’t put yourself in their shoes, this may be hard to understand. But then it’s easy to forget how stressful high school is when you’re an adult. We tend to remember popularity contests and bad cafeteria food. Not the kids who were incessantly harassed by classmates.

Unless, of course, you were bullied or a bully even. Then you may remember how quickly parents, teachers, even bus drivers turned a blind eye and chalked it up to kids being kids. But this behavior cannot be ignored. The number of kids committing suicide because of ongoing harassment is a clear indication that something needs to be done and fast.

Whether it’s verbal, physical or even online, bullying needs to be taken seriously the first time it happens.

Until anti-bullying policies make their way into schools, kids and adults need to be able to recognize and stop bullying:

• Stop Bullying Now
• Helping Kids Deal With Bullies
• PBS Kids – Bullying
• How to Stop Bullying

No child should be afraid to go to school. And they don’t have to be. We can all do our part to stop bullying before it’s too late.

Courtesy of MSNBC

Smokeless tobacco products have been around for a while – gum, chew, etc. But the newest flavored tobacco mints, sticks and strips are quickly getting dubbed poisonous “tobacco candy” aimed at kids.

Of course, there are always going to be risks when it comes to tobacco, smokeless or not. And kids tend to like those things we tell them they can’t have.

But there are precautions you can take to ensure infants and teens alike stay away from these products:

• Talk to your kids about the many costs of smoking
• Like your cleaning products and medicine, keep tobacco products out of reach of children
• Learn how to talk to your teen about not smoking
• If you’re ready to quit, there is a lot of help out there.

Regardless of what it is or what form it comes in, kids will always be susceptible to peer pressure and drugs – even nicotine. So have the talk, keep it out of sight and do what you can to keep it out of your kids hands.