Every day on the calendar is “fill in the blank” day that observes just about anything you can imagine. At the onset of writing this month’s installment (May 24), it is National Brother’s Day and National Scavenger Hunt Day. So, should you have a brother, I hope you gave him a call and went searching for something. If not, mark it on your calendars for 2023. The National Recreation and Park Association (NPRA) recognizes something a little more near and dear to the theme of Pointe Fitness. The NPRA declares the second Saturday of June as Family Health and Wellness Day. That falls on June 11 this year.

Family health and wellness is exactly how health and wellness should be discussed and practiced…...as a family. The health and wellness industry spends a lot of time focusing on individuals and how to improve health via innumerable avenues. All of that information is useful since health improvements are many times unique to the individual. However, when it comes to the big picture, there are definitely some basics to live by as a family so health and wellness is a continuum, not a one off solution to a problem.

Make it a family affair: As mentioned, there may be specific things you, as an individual, must work on to improve health. The basics of eating well, being active, and staying positive are things that can easily be practiced as a family. We all know what and how to do better in each category. The key is not only to practice it, but discuss it as well. For young families, especially, this is important. Younger children are at the mercy of parents when it comes to lifestyle. They learn early what is “normal” to them. Making basic health practices normal is the goal.

Too many cooks in the kitchen: This phrase may apply to certain situations, but family health is not one of them. This is not to say that families always have time to gather and prepare a healthy dinner together. When there is time, it benefits the whole family to try a new healthy recipe and get everyone involved in the preparation. Young children will most likely enjoy this. As they get a little older (say the preteen and teen years as many parents know) that may not be the case, but the seeds of healthy meal preparation can be planted early.

Play together: Just like preparing a healthy meal, choosing activities the entire family can do together should be part of family life. There are many things to choose from and each family member may have a favorite. Make an effort to schedule regular family physical activity. Rotating who gets to choose the activity is a good way to instill the importance of physical activity and keep things “fair” for those with multiple children.

The power of positivity: We all have unique personalities and one trait that can be passed on to kids is having a positive attitude. This doesn’t only mean when things don’t go your or your kids’ ways. Using positive language in general when having family discussions is a way to influence children’s attitudes and how they feel about themselves. There are inevitably going to be times when you feel like Clark Griswold, trying to hold things together for the family and staying positive under the most frustrating moments. Those stressful moments as a parent, when you feel like bursting, are not only learning experiences for you but for your kids, too. If you burst, you can discuss that later and explain that. If you hold it together, you can also discuss that later. Kids often know when you are stressed and they (seemingly deliberately) are the cause of that stress at times. Having a discussion about being stressed and how to deal with it gives you and your kids tools to rise above those situations.

Consistency is key: There are always going to be setbacks to healthy behavior. Making those the exception is key. There is room for balance, but not every day is an occasion for fast food or ice cream. Not every day will there be time to schedule a fun family physical activity. There are going to be stressful times to challenge your attitude. That is what life is about. Making health and wellness a family priority, however, will make those setbacks easier to overcome. If you are already practicing and discussing good health and wellness among your family, keep it up! If you are ready to make it a priority, make it your family’s new normal.