Dear RealAge Parent:

Parents often say to me, "My child is a . . . picky eater, daredevil, couch potato, sugar fiend, junk-food junkie, video-game addict, social recluse, hothead, or night owl. Will he/she ever outgrow this bad habit?"

Maybe not. At least not if you don’t step in.

I can hear you thinking, "Well, fine, Dr. Jen, but where the heck do I begin?"

That’s why I wrote Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children. In the past 10 years, pediatrics has changed dramatically. The most common problems used to be earaches and sore throats. Now, I’m constantly trying to keep kids from getting adult diseases -- heart problems, diabetes, weak bones, hypertension, and more. Diseases that children shouldn’t be getting at all are becoming common!

These are good kids, but modern life invites unhealthy habits. However, once you know how to instill good habits in children, those behavior patterns will last for life. And an amazing 70% of overall health and wellness simply depends on healthy everyday habits.

Are daily habits really that important? As you may have heard, top health experts now predict that if the habits of today’s children persist, this may be the first generation to have shorter life spans than their parents.

It doesn't have to be that way. And it probably won't for your kids, because if you’re reading this, you’re already trying to do something to help your child. Have you taken the RealAge Healthy Kids Test and printed your personalized report yet? I recommend starting there. The results will show you exactly what you're doing right and where you need help.

The advice and action steps in the report are practical and concise. With the dizzying amount of child-health information out there, that’s a lifesaver. You’ll get a realistic, achievable plan for establishing good habits -- nutrition, social, exercise, and academic -- and helping kids sustain these habits into adulthood. And it’s all tailored to your child’s specific needs.

My advice: Don’t try to do too much at once. Focus on making gradual changes. The path toward healthy child development involves physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth, not just fixing one or two habits that drive you crazy. The RealAge Healthy Kids plan will be a big help.

So give your kid a squeeze, take the test, follow the advice, and don’t worry about slipups -- they’re inevitable. Just don’t give up. Sticking with it will give your child the best possible shot at great health and happiness in the years ahead. Nothing -- nothing -- is more important.

Helping you grow healthy kids,

Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg
Chief Pediatric Officer, RealAge.com