There is a book for everything and I mean for everything. Some of them stand out from others and offer a good variety of ways to be healthy and grow as a family. Here are a few that I am happy to have learned about as I look forward to 2016.
15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect With Your Kids
Kids today, right? All they want to do it play on their devices, play video games and watch TV. Remember when we were kids and mom would say, "come back at dark!" We would be outside all day long.
I hear this all of the time. The thing is (and I am guilty of this, too), kids are inside on their devices because we let them be. Sure they beg for them because it's the easy thing to do but, the truth is, once kids get running around outside, they don't usually want to come back inside. It's good to be a kid running around in the fresh air! Now, parents, are you listening? The truth is, getting outside is good for you, too. We all need fresh air, we all need sunshine and the more you can do it as a family, the better off everyone is.
Rebecca P. Cohen's book 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect With Your Kids is just the tool you need to get your creative juices flowing. She's not talking about spending hours outside - just 15 minutes with your kids. She has put together a book of 365 activities to do outside, no matter what the weather or the time of year. Yes, she takes into account the freezing cold of the north and the hot summers of the south. I love flipping through the book and seeing all of her ideas. I feel inspired and can't wait to get outside with my kids!
15 Minutes Outside is available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Thinner in 30: Small Changes That Add Up to Big Weight Loss in Just 30 Days
I am always skeptical of weight loss books. As a trained health coach who believes in the power of whole foods, I don't like fancy diets with great big changes. They work well at first, but are unsustainable. Jenna Wolfe's book, Thinner in 30: Small Changes That Add Up to Big Weight Loss in Just 30 Days caught my attention, though. This is more than a weight loss book. This book is more about feeling your best and changing your life.
Jenna's prescription is to make small, manageable changes over the course of 30 days (or longer if you need). By taking your time, the small changes become habit and add up to big results. Here are some examples:
Change #1: Drink 20 Sips of Water the Moment You Wake Up
Change #4: Stop Eating Simple Carbs After 6:00 p.m.
Change #10: Perform a 20-Minute Workout 3X a Week
Change #21: Make An 'I Will Do' List and Stick to It
Change #28: Drop One Stressful Thing in Your Life
If you are looking to make big changes but aren't sure where to start, Jenna's book is the one for you. Thinner in 30 is available on barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.
Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips to Help Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love of Reading
New Year's resolutions aren't all about your own personal health. Many of them (mine included) are to have more quality family time. It's hard with our busy schedules to sit down and truly relax with our families. This book is a perfect way to get involved with helping your child learn to read while also spending quality time with them.
Written by teachers Amy Mascott and Allison McDonald, this is a step-by-step, easy-to-read guide on how to engage with your child in reading. There are book suggestions for every level along the way and tips on how to take reading outside the book.
This book is a must for families with blooming readers. It makes reading fun for everyone! Raising a Rock-Star Reader is available on amazon.com and scholastic.com.
