Courtesy of HealthNews

Preschool-age kids need good habits and routines for healthy development. But a new study shows just how important those routines may be to your child’s health and weight.

While we all come in different shapes and sizes – obesity raises the risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Needless to say, with more children in the U.S. becoming obese it may be time for some healthy changes.

There are several factors that contribute to obesity. But healthy lifestyle choices, including eating right and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases. Teaching your kids about healthy habits now can help them maintain a healthy weight into adulthood.

Along with eating right and exercising, these steps can help reduce childhood obesity:

1. Having family dinners at least 5 times per week (need dinner ideas? Check out these quick, healthy recipes)
2. Getting 10.5 hours of sleep each night
3. Watching less than 2 hours of television each day

Ready to make some healthy choices for the whole family, but don’t know where to start? Visit The Beehive for healthy living tips, weight management and more.

Courtesy of SuhelSheikh (via Flickr)

Mom’s-to-be are getting a little extra help from Text4Baby – a handy new tool that sends pregnancy tips right to your cell phone.

What could be better than helpful tips about your pregnancy? How about free tips! Well, thanks to several sponsors and wireless carriers like AT&T, the Text4Baby campaign is also the first free health education program in the U.S.

The goal: help expecting and new moms keep themselves and their growing baby healthy.

Keep in mind, the U.S. has one of the highest infant-mortality rates in the industrialized world. And nearly 500,000 babies are born prematurely each year. So with 90 percent of Americans on a cell phone, these texts could make a big difference in the well being of moms and babies around the country.

Text4Baby provides tips about:

• Nutrition
• Immunization
• Birth defect prevention
• And more

It’s easy to sign up too! Simply text “BABY” to 511411 to receive weekly text messages based on your baby’s due date. The texts even continue through the first year.

Looking for a few more tips? Head over to The Beehive for a helpful section on pregnancy and women’s health.

Courtesy of Pink Sherbet (via Flickr)

Schools and students around the country are struggling. But there’s only so much the No Child Left Behind Act seems to be able to do.

This is one of many reasons the Obama administration is proposing an overhaul of these laws.

Whether or not that will happen is still uncertain. But one system that could take its place is called college- and career-ready (CCR). A CCR system could help raise the bar for schools and students.

The primary goal of CCR: all students must graduate with the skills and tools necessary to be successful in today’s workforce.

A few more possible changes to No Child Left Behind include:

• Measuring performance based on student progress, rather than standardized test scores
• Creating new goals and standards for students, teachers, and schools
• Getting all students on track to CCR
• Rewards for schools that close achievement gaps
• Using graduation rates as one measure of performance

If your student could use a little extra help, head over to The Beehive for free homework help, tutoring and more.

Courtesy of Inside Nova

Today, Punxsutawney Phil poked his head out to look for his shadow and make his yearly Groundhog Day prediction.

The forecast: Phil did in fact see his shadow – which means 6 more weeks of winter weather.

If he hadn’t seen his shadow, we’d be in for an early spring. The good news is we’re half-way through winter. And while spring may be another 6 weeks away, it’s not too late (or too early) to start weatherizing your home to save some money.

Contact your state’s weatherization program to find out if you’re eligible for assistance and how to apply.

While you’re at it, this could also be a good time to get started on some spring cleaning. Who knows, you might find a few things you could sell in a yard sale or on sites like Craigslist for some extra cash.

Check out The Beehive for more information about weatherizing and some great ways to save.

Courtesy of Colorado State University

February is Black History Month!

A chance to celebrate the men and women throughout history whose actions, even after death, continue to impact our lives and the communities we live in. It also recognizes the movers and shakers of today, celebrities and regular folks, who are making a difference now and for the future.

But while you’re celebrating black history month, you may want to brush up on your own family history too – namely your heart history.

February also kicks off American Heart Month.

Not only is heart disease the #1 killer among men and women in the U.S., but it also tends to run in the family. And African American men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to white men. Which means now is a great time to understand your risk and learn how to prevent heart disease.

Head over to The Beehive for more information about your heart health and to celebrate a few people who are making a big difference locally and nationally.

Do you love Diary of a Single Mom?

Diary has been nominated for TEN Indie Soap Awards and is eligible for a “Fan’s Choice Award.”  Your support can help us make more episodes!

Please vote to make Diary a fan favorite in the Indie Soap Awards!

Time is running out! Voting is open through the end of January. The winner will be announced on February 1, 2010.

Courtesy of USA Today

A three-percent increase doesn’t sound like much. But when we’re talking about teen birth and abortion rates, any rise is a cause for concern.

Why are teen birth rates going up?

Most fingers are pointing at sex education, specifically abstinence-only ed. But these programs are not necessarily to blame. We should be teaching teenagers abstinence, sure, but not informing them about contraception can have its consequences…

Comprehensive programs teach both – don’t do it, but if you do (let’s be realistic, they’re teenagers) here’s how to protect yourself and your partner.

Parents: talk to your teens! Remember it can be difficult for them to talk to adults too. Make sure they get the information they need to stay healthy and just be teens for a while.

Here are a few sites that can help make the sex talk a little easier for both of you:

• Planned Parenthood
• IWannaKnow.org
• Children Now

Visit The Beehive for more information about women’s health and pregnancy.