Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Kids 

As adults we like to set New Year resolutions as a way to make healthy lifestyle changes. Kids can also join in with parents and set goals for the new year. But these resolutions are often times hard to maintain throughout the year for adults, and especially hard for kids. Having kids set goals for a shorter period of time, perhaps a week or a month, and then rewarding them teaches them the value of goal setting.  Here are some great tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics that parents can use as a guide to help set weekly or monthly resolutions for the new year.

Preschoolers

• I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• I won't tease dogs or other pets - even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

• I will drink 2% milk and water three times each day, and limit soda and fruit drinks to once each day.
• I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I'm playing sports.
• I will try tofind a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
• I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
• I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I'll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
• I'll be nice to other kids. I'll be friendly to kids who need friends - like someone who is shy, or is new to my school.
• I'll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the internet. Also, I'll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent's permission.

Teens, 13-years-old and up

• I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink to one glass daily.
• I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
• I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day - at the most - on these activities.
• I will help out in my community - through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
• When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
• When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
• When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
• I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
• I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
• I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

For more healthy tips please visit my new blog at www.petitepediatrics.com or follow me on Twitter or Facebook.

The federal adoption credit was made refundable for the first time! That means you can claim it for a refund even if you owe no taxes. The credit per-child is now $13,170 for adoptions finalized in 2010. Now that the credit is refundable, many more families will benefit; even families who adopted earlier than 2010, but didn't have enough tax liability to access the credit in previous years. Families that finalized adoptions in 2005-2009 can carry forward unused tax credit to their 2010 return and claim it as a refundable credit.

Be informed when preparing your taxes and visiting your tax consultant this year. Visit the resources listed below. Since this is new, some tax consultants may not be aware of the changes. Help to educate them of the recent updates to the federal credit by referrring them to the IRS instructions for Form 8839 and NACAC's fact sheets. To learn more about the adoption tax credit and how it might benefit your family, visit the following resources:

Visit the IRS (Form 8839) 

Visit the VFA's board organization (NACAC) for helpful fact sheets

Visit Voice for Adoption

The information here was compiled by Voice for Adoption. It is not intended to be professional tax advice. Please check with a professional tax consultant.