Schedule More Family Time: People are busy, kids and parents included. Make sure there is a block of time each day (with few exceptions) where the family comes together. This means work, chore and activity schedules should be coordinated for maximum family benefit.

Invest in a family calendar, if you don’t already have one, so everyone can write down his or her commitments and time can be set aside together. Whether it’s sharing a meal, playing a game or even enjoying a favorite T.V. program, make sure there is family time. Getting kids involved in extra-curricular activities has positive benefit, but over-scheduling children to the detriment of family time benefits no one.

In addition to sharing time altogether, it’s also great to set aside a bit of alone time with each of your kids.

This doesn’t have to happen every day, but your kids need time to be able to regularly communicate with their parents privately. Private talks shouldn’t just be reserved for when there is a problem or issue that needs to be discussed. Set a schedule with your spouse or talk to a family member or friend that will give you time with your kids on a regular basis.

Adopt a Healthy Family Lifestyle:  In today’s hectic world, it’s sometimes easy to let healthy choices and time for an active lifestyle to go out the window. If you want a healthy outlook to dominate your children’s lives, it has to start with you. If you want healthy kids, you have to be a healthy parent.

Talk to your child about the benefits of exercise and talk about healthy food choices. You don’t have to be marathon runners or forbid any special treats completely, but add more healthy items to your regular day.

Here are some ideas to adopt a more healthy lifestyle:

• Do your meal-planning a week in advance and purchase all the ingredients you need. If you don’t plan ahead, you’re more likely to choose more fast-food options.

• Make meal time fun and get kids involved in the preparation.

• Leave a fruit bowl out where kids can help themselves.

• Prepare a veggie plate with cut vegetables that is readily accessible in the refrigerator at all times.

• Limit the number of times you eat out or take out. If you do need to choose prepared foods, make more healthy choices. If a restaurant you frequent doesn’t provide healthy choices, go elsewhere.

A few times a week, make your family-time a physical activity. What you’ll do will depend on your parents ages and interests, but you might try:

• Go for a nature walk
• Visit a local aquarium, zoo or other attraction that requires walking.
• Enjoy a game of tennis, golf or even bowling. Choose activities the kids like. If it keeps them off the coach, it’s probably a good thing.
• Get family chores done. Wash the car together, vacuum, but make it fun with great conversation and play.
• Encourage your children to get involved in sports on their own. If there is a sport they would like to earn more about, enroll them and let them get extra physical activity.