PROSPER - Life & Luxury Magazine | August 2022

Tammy Elliott

Photo by Contemporary Portraits

3 Tips to Boost Your Children’s Self-Esteem This School Year

While packing bags and backpacks for school, there’s one essential that may be overlooked: Children’s self-esteem. Although many children may feel confident and self-assured at home, they can feel differently in the classroom. When children have high self-esteem, they’re less likely to reflect negative feelings toward others.

“If children can treat themselves kindly, they’ll treat others that way,” said Carter Peters from KinderCare Learning Centers’ education team. “When children feel encouraged, supported and loved, they are able to give those feelings to others.”

Consider these three tips to boost your children’s self-esteem.

Be Your Children’s Cheerleader. When praising or complimenting children for their achievements, be specific and include affirmation for positive character traits, such as “You were so kind to help Ms. Delmar take her recycling out” or “I’m proud of you for seeing she needed help and offering it.” Being specific with your compliments reinforces the idea that your children are kind and helpful. Eventually, they’ll offer others the same positive affirmations and be less likely to look to outside influences to define their sense of self.

“When children have high self-esteem and self-worth, they know when someone’s opinion of them is untrue,” Peters said. “Children with high self-esteem become adults capable of believing in themselves.”

Give Children Space to Safely Express Their Emotions. While it’s important to intentionally connect with your children one-on-one, it’s equally important to give them space to come to you for help. Let them know you notice when they don’t seem like themselves but try not to push them to share before they’re ready.

You can talk with your children about the ways they can communicate with you, aside from one-on-one conversations. If they find it easier to communicate their feelings through writing, you can go to the store together to pick out a journal. Children who are not yet proficient writers may prefer to draw pictures about their feelings. No matter the method, be sure to make time to check in with your children.

Teach Emotional Literacy and Replacement Skill Behavior. You can help your children move beyond comprehension of basic emotions –happy, sad, mad – and toward an understanding of more nuanced emotions. When children can identify their feelings, they’re closer to developing healthy responses.

Commonly labeled “bad behaviors” are often young children’s way of communicating something is wrong, so they may need help identifying the emotion driving their actions. It’s important for children to understand that while their feelings are acceptable, their behavior may not be. That’s where replacement skills – acceptable ways to express emotions – come in. For example, try saying “It’s OK to be mad. It’s not OK to hit other people. When you’re mad, you can hit a pillow.”

For more tips to help boost children’s self-esteem, visit kindercare.com.

Protecting Children in a Digital Age

Keeping a watchful eye on your kids requires an increasing level of tech savvy many parents find intimidating. Not only are your kids vulnerable to bad actors online, but your family’s personal information could be at risk, as well. Learn how to protect your children and family in this digital age with these tips:

Elementary-Age Children

Encourage open communication. Have conversations about what your kids see and do online and talk with them about potential dangers. Avoid lecturing in favor of an open exchange of information.

Make their inherent interest in privacy work in your favor. Kids in this age group, particularly toward the middle school years, understand the concept of privacy and value it immensely. Use that context to help them understand what goes online is there to stay. Talk about what kinds of information should always be kept private, including identifying details like addresses and social security numbers.

Stay on alert. Not all apps are completely safe (even the ones you can access from trusted stores) and not all filters are foolproof. Keep close tabs on what your kids are downloading by reading comments and reviews, and regularly monitoring what kind of content they see.

Middle School and High School Kids

Continue talking about privacy. You can never have too many

conversations about privacy. What seems like harmless sharing on social media can be quite revealing. For example, frequent posts about visits to a favorite store or restaurant can allow a predator to begin tracking behavior patterns that make your child a target. It’s also important for kids to understand how their privacy settings work. For example, settings that allow exposure to friends of friends make their visibility to strangers much broader than they may realize.

Help manage their online reputation. Behaviors that once resulted in a day or two of hallway chatter can now live forever. Documenting mischief online is only fun until it spills over into real life, and everyone sees those mistakes in full color – including prospective future employers.

Be clear about your position on bullying. From the safe distance of a screen, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to say things they’d never say in person. Teach your kids to handle problems constructively offline and avoid engaging in attacks on others through social media, email, and other platforms.

College Students

Reinforce the risks. Once they’re on their own, kids may feel more liberated to make their own choices online. However, college students are easy prey for identity theft and worse. Remind them what’s at stake if they fail to protect their identity and private information, like where they live and what they do on a regular basis.

Teach smart practices. With all the independence that comes with college life, this is an ideal time for your student to take personal responsibility for his or her online security, including learning about virus protection, updating software, avoiding scams, and backing up data.

If you’re looking for more practical advice for everyday family matters, visit eLivingtoday.com

Prosper ISD Athletic Hall of Honor Recognizes 4th Class of Inductees

Prosper Independent School District is pleased to announce their 4th induction class of the Prosper ISD Athletics Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor is designed to recognize and celebrate those athletes, coaches, supporters, and teams who have laid the foundation for what Prosper ISD Athletics is today.

The 2023 Hall of Honor Class was introduced during halftime of the Rock Hill High School’s home football game on Friday, August 26th at Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD. They will be formally inducted into the Hall of Honor at the ceremony on Friday, January 6, 2023, in the Community Room at Children’s Health Stadium.

BETTY JACKSON GOTCHER STEWART

Ms. Stewart is a 1953 Prosper High School graduate and was a member of the softball, volleyball, tennis, and basketball teams. She was Head Majorette and voted as the best athlete in PHS.

DONALD VEST

Mr. Vest dominated the football field for Prosper High School in 1970, recording over 1,100 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns that season. He is a 1971 Prosper High School graduate who also succeeded in track during his high school career.

DESTINY NELSON

Ms. Nelson is a 2015 Prosper High School graduate. She was a 5-time State Champion, as well as the 4A Swimmer of the Year for the State of Texas in 2015. She went on to have a successful college career, and qualified for the US Olympic Trials in 2016 and 2020.

Prosper Volleyball Coach Celebrates 300th Win at Season Opener

Prosper Volleyball is known nationally as a powerhouse volleyball program. Hundreds of girls over the years have played for Prosper Volleyball, several continuing to play after graduating high school. But no one has left their mark on Prosper Volleyball more than Coach Erin Kauffman. On August 9th, Kauffman notched her 300th career win in a four-set victory over last year’s 5A State Champion Lovejoy.

This is Kauffman’s 10th year as the Prosper Volleyball Head Coach. Before becoming the head coach at Prosper, Kauffman was the Varsity Assistant at Lovejoy High School, making the 300th win extra sweet in the same gym she first began her coaching career.

“300 wins means a lot to me, especially since all of them have come as the Prosper High School Head Coach,” says Coach Erin Kauffman. “I’m blessed to work and live in a community that truly supports athletics. We have an administration that understands the importance of extracurriculars in students’ lives and works to make sure that our programs are taken care of.”

Prosper Volleyball has flourished since Kauffman took the reins 10 years ago. Last year, the Eagles advanced to the Region II 6A Semifinals, the fifth straight year for the Eagles to reach the Regional Tournament. In 2020, despite COVID restrictions, the Eagles finished at the top of District 5-6A and advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals. In 2019, the Eagles won District 9-6A and reached the Regional Semifinals.

In 2018, the Eagles entered 6A with a bang, winning the prestigious Pearland Tournament, capturing the District 9-6A title with a perfect 12-0 record, and finished the season one win away from the State Final Four. Kauffman was named District Coach of the Year.

In 2017, the Eagles went 46-6, capturing the UIL Class 5A State Volleyball Title, a first for any girls’ team at Prosper High School. Kauffman picked up her second Dallas Morning News All-Area Coach of the Year, was named Texas Association of Volleyball Coaches (TAVC) 5A Coach of the Year, District 14-5A Coach of the Year, and was also the first recipient of the annual PISD High School Coach of the Year. The Eagles finished the season ranked #38 in the Nation according to MaxPreps.

In 2016, the Eagles went 40-9, won the Allen Open Tournament, and captured the District 14-5A title without dropping a set. They advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals before losing in a five-set heartbreaker. Kauffman was awarded District Coach of the Year. In 2015, the Eagles shared the District 10-5A title and finished the season as Region II Quarterfinalists with a 39-10 record.

In 2014, the Eagles shared the District 10-5A title and handed Lovejoy their first ever district loss. As a result, Kauffman was voted District 10-5A Coach of the Year. The 2014 Prosper Eagles finished 35-12, advancing to the Regional Finals, finishing the season ranked #3 in 5A and #20 over all classes.

During Kauffman’s first year as Prosper Head Coach, the Eagles advanced to the 4A State Title Match. Kauffman was named Dallas Morning News Volleyball Coach of the Year, VYPE magazine DFW Volleyball Coach of the Year, SFASU Alumni Coaches Award, and was a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association “Thirty Under 30” Award, given to thirty coaches nationwide at the high school, club and college level who are under the age of 30. Before beginning her coaching career, Kauffman spent four years at Stephen F. Austin State University, as the recruiting coordinator for the volleyball program. During Kauffman’s time at SFA, the Ladyjacks set the Southland Conference record for consecutive conference wins with 63, and advanced to the second round of the Division I NCAA Championships in 2006. Kauffman was a four-year letter winner at Saint Louis University, playing both setter and libero.

“I made a good decision ten years ago that ended up being a life changer,” says Coach Kauffman. “I am forever thankful for PISD and Dr. Watkins, who took a chance on a fiery 28-year-old with no head coaching experience!”

Prosper High School Percussion’s Amazing Summer 2022 Achievements

This summer, Prosper High School percussion students and alumni participated in national tours, events, and contests throughout the United States. Maddie Wallace, Ethan Swiderski, Noah Gordon, Brayden Haslem, Natalie Garms, and Dane Castelberry were among the students who performed at the Great Plains International Marimba Competition and the Drum Corps International U.S. Tour.

Natalie Garms, a senior this year at Prosper High School, competed in the Great Plains International Marimba Contest. The GPIMC has three rounds of competition with a preliminary round conducted virtually, followed by a semi-final & final contest taking place in-person at Oklahoma City University. Natalie performed the marimba solo Malice by Caleb Pickering in the prelims and qualified to travel to OCU for the semis & finals contest. While at OCU, she performed the solo Chain by Kazunori Mikaye. She also participated in master classes and clinics given by Kevin Bobo from Indiana University, Dr. She-e-wu from Northwestern University, and Ji Hye Jung from Vanderbilt University.

Brayden Haslem (far right) performing with the Guardians Snare Line

Natalie Garms, performing Chain, by Kazunori Mikaye, at the Great Plains International Marimba Competition

Ethan Swiderski, who graduated from Prosper High School in 2018, toured the U.S. and served as the Battery Percussion Section Leader for the Boston Crusaders from Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Crusaders’ show, “Paradise Lost”, toured 17 states over the course of the summer and won the Bronze Medal at the Drum Corps International World Championships held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Boston Crusaders drumline was far and away the crowd favorite this season and social media videos went viral all season long.

Maddie Wallace, another graduate from Prosper High School in 2018, performed more than 22 shows with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps from Santa Clara, California. Maddie served as the section leader of the front ensemble and help the Vanguard Percussion Section earn second place in the Percussion Caption at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Noah Gordon, who recently graduated from Prosper High School in May 2022, toured with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming. Noah earned a spot in the tenor section of the drumline his rookie year with the corps. The Troopers were a huge fan favorite this season and their show, “Voracious”, earned the Corps a Finalist placement for the first time in over a decade at the Drum Corps International World Championships this season.

Brayden Haslem, another recent PHS graduate in May 2022, along with Dane Castleberry, a sophomore at Prosper High School, both toured with the Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps from Houston, Texas. The Guardians toured 7 states and competed in the DCI Open Class Championships, placing 5th, which earned the Corps the opportunity to participate in the World Class Prelims, where they ended up placing in the Top 25.

Ethan Swiderski, rehearsing with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps 2022

Maddie Wallace, Santa Clara Vanguard section leader, performing their 2022 show, “Finding Nirvana”

Noah Gordon (second from right) warming-up with the Troopers Tenor Line

Dane Castleberry (far left) with his teammates in the Guardians Bass Drum Line

Comforting Color: Fill Your Home with Balance and Hope

In the world of design, what’s old inevitably becomes new again, and a similar pattern is inspiring today’s on-trend color palettes for home decor. The latest styles reflect reviving and comforting colors influenced by heritage and romance, lending to a look that is familiar in an individualistic way.

Whether living through the romance of rural lifestyles, the comfort of home or the nostalgia from far-off times, some of today’s most beloved design aesthetics celebrate the past, present, and future while bringing balance, hope and comfort for you and your family to embrace.

Timeless Color

Using color to evoke feelings and emotions is hardly new but combining a carefully curated color palette with other design elements can allow you to create a look that pays homage to the past while breathing new life into your living space.

Reimagining classic, familiar tones allows you to achieve a design motif that is equal parts reminiscent and refreshing.

“The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an effortless look that reveals the importance of being hopeful to find stability and balance,” said Ashley Banbury, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams senior color designer. “Our 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.”

Blending Past and Present

Striking a balance between old and new can take many forms, as these styles show:

Heritage Revival: An interest in reviving the past is evident in design trends like a remerging appreciation of antiques and vintage elements, such oversized furniture and traditional shapes. To capture this style, your design should focus on contrasting old and new for a mix-andmatch look.

A cohesive color scheme can allow the various elements to stand on their own while working in harmony for an intentional design. For example, the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2023 Color Collection of the Year includes a combination of familiar tones that have been thoughtfully curated by design experts who borrow color and design concepts from the past for a hopeful future and a sense of belonging. Hues like Poetry

Plum and Hot Cocoa evoke warmth and depth, while moderate shades like Restrained Gold and Glamour offer fresh ways to incorporate midrange neutrals. Meanwhile, soft tones like Natural Linen and Cool Beige offer subtle color for lighter, brighter spaces.

Mixing and Matching of Eras: A new take on retro design is emerging in which eras are blended and new and old furnishing work side by side. To get this look, you’ll craft a space that marries historical and contemporary design, celebrating both old and new. To design for longevity, incorporate pieces that are ambiguous in era and stand the test of time.

Vintage Homestead: Reviving design elements from the past with mixed patterns, classic shapes and vintage decor adds up to comfortable and comforting design. With this trend, prints and patterns encompass a range of styles, reinforcing how interiors connect to fashion. Mixing classic elegance with sleek vintage shapes is refining the concept of polished comfort. To achieve the look, curate pieces in heritage shapes and patterns, along with retro accents. Be sure to incorporate vintage lighting and glass, as well.

A versatile color choice like Darkroom, the 2023 Color of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, is an alluring shade that is classic enough for heritage interiors but also modernly retro for a throwbackinspired aesthetic. It’s a neutral perfect for creating an eclectic yet modern look inside and out.

Get inspired to combine the past with the present for a comforting design that’s all your own at hgtvhomebysherwinwilliams.com

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STACY CATE

Do You Have the Fungus Among Us?

Summertime in Texas means lots of heat and humidity. This warm and moist weather creates the perfect environment for harmful fungus and diseases to grow and thrive on your client’s lawn. Fungi (as the nerdy scientist folk call it) is an opportunist that loves to take advantage of “weakened” turf. Leaving a lawn untreated during the summer months can result in the perfect breeding ground for a multitude of diseases that can be frustrating and expensive to manage sometimes.

Brown Patch – Circular spots on the lawn that start as yellow in color then change to brown, hence the label “brown patch”. During the peak of summer, nighttime is not always a cool-down period and there is little to no air circulation, creating the perfect conditions for fungi to creep in and create brown patches across the lawn.

There is little air circulation during the hot and humid summer nights, which provides the perfect environment for fungus growth. To treat Brown Patch, consider using a Lawn Fungicide Spray. Also try to avoid watering between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., as your lawn will retain that water and create more opportunities for fungi to thrive and expand existing patches.

Dollar Spot – Similar to “brown patch” except with Dollar Spot lots of little brown spots appear across your lawn, as opposed to larger areas. Dollar Spot is caused by a different type of fungus, Clarireedia Jacksonii, one of the more common type of fungi that are known to affect lawns, golf courses and other high-maintenance turf areas.

Like Brown Patch, Dollar Spot can be treated with lawn fungicide and as a proactive measure, using nitrogen fertilizer applications in late spring will help minimize its severity. It’s also wise to irrigate the lawn deeply, less frequently and early in the morning so that the turf dries out completely or as much as possible before evening.

Summer Patch – Summer Patch is a disease that starts infecting roots in the spring and visibly causes the most damage in the middle of the summer due to the stress of extreme heat. Initial symptoms look like small circular and/or ovular patches, roughly 4-6 inches in diameter, that are orange-brown and often occur in clusters. Individual patches can grow up to 12 inches in or more diameter.

Because this disease is exacerbated by extreme summer heat, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the stress of that heat on the lawn: Core aeration of lawns in the spring and fall

Prolonged deep infrequent watering of your lawn Minimizing foot traffic

Keeping the lawn adequately fertilized throughout the summer Apply fungicides at first sight of disease

At the end of the day, a strong and healthy lawn is the best prevention against these and similar diseases that can destroy your hard work during the summer months. Turf that is fertilized, aerated, limed, and mowed at the correct height will fight off diseases a lot better than lawns that aren’t properly maintained. Always a great idea to help protect your investment!

Take notice of the lawn’s condition and watch out for areas of small brown patches or larger brown and orange patches. The sooner you attack the disease the better chance you have of saving your lawn for the future.

Question: Jimmie, you have helped me and my husband, Jack, several times at our house and the results are always amazing! We have just purchased a new home in Prosper and it has a beautiful pool area. However, the previous owner installed a xeriscape type design and did not maintain it. We have spent the last few months having our lawn maintenance folks remove it all, so now we are excavating all the old, depleted soil. You, or one of your team, will be coming out soon to help us create and install a much more tropical feel out there! Can you send us a few suggestions to be considering that will be hearty type Anchor plants to accomplish that? Thank you so much and will be in touch soon! Anne L. in Prosper

Answer: Hello Anne, great to hear from you and Jack! Sure, I can give you some options to consider. When considering tropical anchors, some of the best, most hearty for our climate zone include the following: for Palms, the best types are Windmills and Sabal Palms (Texas and Florida varieties). They both do very well here. Also, give strong consideration to Loquat trees; the male variety is preferred. There are a lot of great accent plants that can be designed around tropical anchors. We can assist you guys with some that make things “pop”. Look forward to hearing from you both soon! Until next time… Happy Gardening!

Jimmie

Kid-Friendly Recipes to Power Through School Days

A menu of filling, delicious recipes is just what your family needs to make each school day a successful educational adventure. Satisfying lunch and dinner ideas can give loved ones the fuel they need while delicious desserts provide motivation for growing minds to get homework finished before enjoying a treat.

When weeks get hectic due to busy schedules, these recipes offer simple solutions to make cooking easier while limiting time spent in the kitchen. Start with a lunch that’s as easy to make as it is to pack in a lunchbox, recharge in the evening thanks to a veggie-forward main course and satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with a chocolatey favorite to round out the day.

Keep your family full and energized each school day with more recipe ideas at Culinary.net.

Make School Lunches a Breeze

There’s a lot to remember when sending your student off to school each morning, from backpacks and school supplies to last night’s homework. Don’t forget one of the key ingredients to a successful day: lunch.

These Cheeseburger Turnovers provide the energy little learners need to power through their afternoon lessons. One winning idea to make the week easier is to prep a full batch of these easily packable, kid-friendly handhelds Sunday night so you’ve got lunch ready for each day.

To find more school day recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

CHEESEBURGER TURNOVERS

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup onion, chopped 2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon mustard

1 can flaky biscuits

1 cup shredded cheese

Dill pickle slices, halved

1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 375 F.

In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are tender. Drain. Stir in ketchup and mustard.

Separate biscuit dough. On ungreased baking sheet, flatten biscuit dough to form 6-inch rounds. Spoon beef mixture onto one side of flattened dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with dill pickle half. Fold dough over filling. With fork tines, press dough edges to seal. Cut two slits in top of dough to release steam. Repeat with remaining dough, beef mixture, cheese and pickles.

Brush each turnover with egg wash. Bake 18-22 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

A Perfect Pasta for School Nights

Weeknight meals are all about putting tasty dishes on the table in a short amount of time so you can share precious moments together despite busy schedules. In a matter of minutes, you can prepare this Lentil Bolognese with Veggie-Based Penne for a quick yet flavorful recipe that

can be enjoyed by little ones and adults alike. Featuring Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne as its key ingredient, this family meal makes it easy to incorporate vegetables without sacrificing taste. Available in popular shapes like penne, spaghetti and elbow, and made with lentils, peas and cauliflower, zucchini or sweet potato, the veggie-based pastas are glutenfree, non-GMO, vegan, Kosher and good sources of protein and fiber. Visit veggiecraftfarms.com for more information and family-friendly recipes.

LENTIL BOLOGNESE WITH VEGGIE-BASED PENNE

1 cup dry French green lentils or brown lentils

1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 box Veggiecraft Farms Cauliflower Penne

Toppings: Fresh basil Parmesan cheese

Red pepper flakes

Cook lentils according to package directions. Drain then return to pot and add marinara and vegetable broth. Stir well and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes.

Cook penne according to package directions. Top cooked pasta with lentil Bolognese, fresh basil, Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

A Heaping Serving of Homework Motivation

Heading back to school doesn’t have to mean forgetting the fun of warm weather treats. Once the homework is done and you’ve enjoyed dinner with loved ones, turn your attention to a dessert that tastes like it was prepared by a professional baker.

This S’mores Skillet starts with a sweet brownie base made with Domino Light Brown Sugar and is then infused and topped with traditional s’mores ingredients. Just combine in a skillet then bake – or grill for that familiar outdoor feel – until warm and gooey.

Find more dessert ideas to sweeten up back-to-school season at DominoSugar.com.

S’MORES SKILLET

8 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup Domino Light Brown Sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup mini marshmallows, divided

6 graham crackers, roughly crumbled, divided

Preheat oven or grill to 350 F.

Place medium heat-proof bowl over medium saucepan simmering with water. Add butter, 1/4 cup chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate; melt. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool 15 minutes.

In small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt.

In large bowl, mix eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in flour mixture. Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and three graham crackers to batter.

Pour mixture into 8-inch skillet. Top with remaining mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers. Grill or bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from grill. Cool 10 minutes and serve.

5 Healthy Habits to Help Reduce Stress

Between work, family obligations and a constantly changing world, people in the United States are stressed. In fact, U.S. workers are among the most stressed in the world, according to a State of the Global Workplace study. While some stress is unavoidable and can be good for you, constant or chronic stress can have real consequences for your mental and physical health.

Chronic stress can increase your lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity and smoking while also increasing risk factors, including high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. However, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association shows reducing stress and cultivating a positive mindset can improve health and well-being.

To help people understand the connection between stress and physical health, the American Heart Association offers these science-backed insights to help reduce chronic stress.

Stay Active

Exercise is one of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy and release stress. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones, and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression. It can also help increase energy and improve quality of sleep. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination.

Meditate

Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into your day to give yourself a few minutes to create some distance from daily stress. Some studies show meditation can reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, support the immune system, and increase your ability to process information.

Practice Positivity

A positive mindset can improve overall health. Studies show a positive mindset can help you live longer, and happy individuals tend to sleep better, exercise more, eat better and not smoke. Practice positive self-talk to help you stay calm. Instead of saying, “everything is going wrong,” reframe the situation and remind yourself “I can handle this if I take it one step at a time.”

Show Gratitude

Gratitude – or thankfulness – is a powerful tool that can reduce levels of depression and anxiety and improve sleep. Start by simply writing down three things you’re grateful for each day.

Find a Furry Friend

Having a pet may help you get more fit; lower stress, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar; and boost overall happiness and wellbeing. When you see, touch, hear or talk to companion animals, you may feel a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness. At the same time, stress hormones are suppressed. Dog ownership is also associated with a lower risk of depression, according to research published by the American Heart Association.

Find more stress-management tips at Heart.org/stress

Stress 101

Understanding stress is an important step in managing and reducing it. Consider these things to know about stress and how it could affect your life:

Today, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. report being worried or depressed. Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol are linked to increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular events like heart disease and stroke.

The top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns.

Work-related stress is associated with a 40% increased risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.

Safe and Sound

5 Ways to Reduce Safety Risks for Young Children

As parents, one of your top priorities is the safety and well-being of your children. With all the potential pitfalls of day-to-day life, however, navigating the risks can be difficult. These everyday safety tips can help you navigate everything from car seat safety to baby-proofing and safe sleep, keeping your child out of harm’s way as much as possible from birth through his or her toddler years.

Car Seat Safety

Always use a valid (typically less than 6 years old), federally approved car seat in motor vehicles.

Ensure the seat is properly installed. Refer to the instruction manual with any questions.

If you use an infant carrier, strap your child in on the floor, never a counter or tabletop.

For at least the first two years of your child’s life, the car seat should be rear-facing.

The safest location for a car seat is in the middle of the back seat.

Choking Prevention

Avoid giving your child nuts, popcorn, hard candies, hot dogs and raw fruits and vegetables, such as grapes or carrots, that may present a choking hazard.

Never prop up a bottle and leave your baby unattended. Inspect toys often to ensure they’re not broken and do not have small pieces that could easily become detached. Be cautious of strings and buttons on clothing.

Safe Sleep

The safest place for your baby to sleep is on his or her back, which reduces the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Avoid placing anything in the crib or bassinet that may suffocate your child, such as pillows, blankets, or bumpers.

Keep your child’s room at a moderate temperature and dress him or her appropriately to avoid overheating.

Never leave your baby alone on a bed, couch, changing table, swing, or infant seat.

Water Safety

Set your hot water heater no higher than 120 F. Test the temperature of bath water before setting your baby in the tub. Never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub. Keep toilet lids down and consider installing toilet lid locks.

Baby-Proofing

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and in every sleeping area.

Secure cords on blinds and drapes out of reach. Keep sharp objects, such as knives, scissors and tools, and other hazardous items, like coins, beads, and pins, in a secure place out of baby’s reach.

Store cleaning products and medications in locked cabinets. Never store potentially toxic substances in containers that could be mistaken for food or drink.

Cover all electrical outlets.

Cushion hard edges and sharp corners of furniture and decor.

Secure cords to electrical items along baseboards using electrical tape. Attach heavy or tall furniture to the wall and avoid placing items that could fall, like electronics or lamps, on top of dressers or shelves.

Install safety gates with straight, vertical slats securely in front of all stairwells.

Find more tips and ideas to keep your children safe at home and on the go at eLivingtoday.com.

Dr. Jill, Dr. Cara, and Dr. Summer provide customized dental care for your entire family! They are committed to the highest level of dentistry that incorporates the most recent medical advances with time-proven traditional dentistry. From the moment you enter their office, every member of your family will feel like part of the Prosper Family Dentistry family.