GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — NBC 26 Today spoke with Dr. Megan Moreno, adolescent health expert at UW Health Kids in Madison.
Many parents may be wondering this time of year how to keep kids health while dealing with the cold winter months, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winter weather and ongoing COVID can limit activities for kids and teens. This may mean that kids and teens are connecting more via screens. There are ways that parents can make sure kids and teens are using technology to support their health .
Make sure your child is getting what they need to be physically healthy. These things include:
- Sleep: Depending on the age of your child, they need between 8 and 12 hours of sleep each night. Help your child establish a calming bedtime routine so they can fall asleep quickly and get the full amount of sleep they need. Some ways to use devices to begin the transition to bedtime can include listening to quiet music, or listening to a storytelling podcast together with your child. A great one is the “Stories” podcast. Current recommendations are to avoid looking at screens (browsing or scrolling) one hour before bed.
- Physical activity: It can be more challenging to get physical activity in the winter when temperature are low. Consider creative indoor activities such as dancing to music, or incorporating gaming systems such as ‘dance dance revolution’, or watching YouTube videos such as leaning dance or yoga.
