I think one of the worst punishments for both parent and child is looking after them when you are sick!

This week both myself and my wife were sick, Renee went to work with the flu and I was looking after Pyper, I was sick and really not in the mood for running around chasing her, and having her scream at the top of her lungs with everything that she finds cute or not!

So what do you do when you have to look after a little person who may also be sick and you or your partner are in charge, and your sick also??

If you are really sick then you shouldn’t be looking after them at all. Call a friend or relative and ask them to come over? If they can’t then you should definitely ask your partner to help out. Possibly you might need ½ a day to recover and then they might be able to go back to work or if the job permits they possibly might be able to do it from home. ... read more >>

In the first part of this series we decided that there are a lot of good reasons to include your child on your family health insurance plan. So, in this part we’re going to take a look at what kind of plan to get, what to avoid, and a couple of tips for saving money.

In short, when choosing a health insurance plan your main focus should be getting quality, 100% cover for the things that really count – surgery and hospital care. ... read more >>

First of all, if you have health insurance, is it a good idea to extend your cover to your child? In a word - yes. While many health services for kids are great (and no one disputes the skill and care of the medical practitioners involved), the fact is that children sometimes face waiting lists, just like adults do. Whether this happens depends on staffing and funding levels in your local health area. These can be unpredictable, as a number of people in Wanganui found recently (MidCentral to the rescue of Whanganui). Health insurance means that waiting lists are no longer a problem – you can choose the time, place, and health provider for your child. This means that treatment can be organized quickly and smoothly, without the uncertainty that a waiting list can bring. ... read more >>

posted with permission

My daughter sat in her creaky, wooden high chair last week, blissfully happy in her chubby 2-year-old frame, and I worried.

I worried because in a few years this toddler will stand at the edge of the nation's body-image vortex, swirling with size 00 jeans, underfed celebrities glorified in gossip magazines, the latest "America's Next Top Model" and an unrelenting marketing drumbeat that skinnier is better.

How do I keep her from falling in?

My New Year's resolution is to help my daughter prepare for the mind-numbingly complex, sometimes fictitious image of the female body. Unfortunately, I am out of my element.

Today, involved dads are entering unfamiliar territory, such as body-image anxiety. They want to help, but don't always know how, says Harvard Medical University researcher Dr. Nancy Etcoff. When Etcoff gives a speech these days, dads ask a lot of the questions. ... read more >>

ACTIVE FUN IN THE COMMUNITY - ORGANISED SPORT FOR CHILDREN

Why is organised sport for children so important?
Organised sport helps to get children out and about, and contributes to setting up lifelong enjoyment and participation in sport and recreation. Participating in organised sport creates helps to encourage children to start being active for life.

Getting children physically active is brilliant for their health, happiness and learning.

What are the benefits of organised sport for children?
There are many benefits for children who participate in organised sport and activity. There are the physical benefits – healthy bones, bodies and cardiovascular systems and reducing the risk of future health problems. Organised sport and activity also helps children to control their movement and coordination. ... read more >>

I found this report on a study done on the called effects controlling fathers may have on their daughter possibly having an eating disorder.

Apart from there being no mention of the daughters mother being of any blame to why their daughter maybe anorexic, I know several young women who’s mothers still say to them, "your too fat" or "You don't need to eat that"...

What about the media?!? The pressure on young girls to look like the celebrities in the magazines, movies and on stage singing is huge its what is made out to be beautiful, if your skinny too you'll fit into the celebrity life style...

A father's relationship with his daughter may influence whether or not she will develop an eating disorder, researchers from Australia have found. ... read more >>

Here are a few things to consider.

1. Don't get life insurance for your baby
There is no need for it and if someone tries to sell it to you they are taking advantage of your emotions. One rule of life insurance - get it only if the loss of the insured person would have a financial impact on the surviving family members. ... read more >>

Why is being active from an early age so important?
Being active is important for healthy brain development. It also discourages health problems like diabetes and obesity.

Being active is not only beneficial physically it also helps children to develop intellectually, emotionally and socially so they are healthy, happy and confident.

How does being active contribute to brain development?
Early experiences fine-tune brain structures – they directly affect how we are hardwired.

Does this development come naturally?
Yes and no. Technology (such as television and computers) plays a big part in our lives so we tend to move less and generally we’re less active than our parents and grandparents were. ... read more >>

For many young girls, a stable family life is one key factor to avoiding a number of serious health problems. New research by researchers at The University of Arizona and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, indicates that girls who grow up with supportive parents who themselves have a strong relationship are more likely to delay the onset of puberty.

Bruce J. Ellis, an associate professor in the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the UA, and Marilyn J. Essex at Wisconsin, are reporting their research in the journal Child Development. Ellis was the lead author of the study.
Early puberty in girls is already known as a risk factor for a variety of health problems, including mood disorders, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy and cancers of the reproductive system. Understanding these risks are also essential as a means to develop effective early intervention and prevention strategies. ... read more >>

Well it's week two and my stubble is looking more like a mo, I get more comments now, some laugh and others like it, more importantly my kids like it.
Thank you to the people that have sponsored us to-date, every contribution makes a difference to a great cause that otherwise goes unnoticed in the media, our own health and the health of other men. - Eric

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) the DIYFather team (Scott on the left and Eric) will be growin a Mo. That's right we are bringing the Mo back because we are passionate about men's health and the fight against prostate cancer. Why...

* Every year in New Zealand 2,656 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 600 die of the disease, making prostate cancer the second largest cause of male deaths, after lung cancer.

* The average life expectancy of a man in New Zealand is 4 years less than a woman.

To sponsor our Mo please go to http://www.movember.com/nz/donate, enter our registration number which is 106223 and your credit card details. Or you can sponsor us by cheque made payable to the "Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand" clearly marking the donation as being for my Registration Number: 106223. Please mail cheques to: Movember, PO Box 87 150, Meadowbank 1742, Auckland. All donations over $5 are tax deductible. ... read more >>