Read Early, Read Aloud
• Read to your child every day, for at least 30 minutes in total
• Try reading for a few minutes at a time, children may only sit for a short time for a story
• Make the story come alive- create voices for the characters or sing about the pictures
• Ask questions about the story and let your child ask questions too
• For infants, choose simple and colorful cloth and vinyl books
• For preschoolers, choose books with repetition and rhyme

Nutrition
• Start with a healthy breakfast every morning
• Drink six glasses of water and one to two glasses of milk throughout the day
• Eat five or more fruits and vegetables everyday to stay healthy
• Avoid high fat foods like french fries and potato chips
• Breastfeed your baby for the first year or longer to keep them healthy

Prenatal
• Get tested for infection, diabetes and other medical problems before becoming pregnant
• Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid daily, starting three months before pregnancy
• See your doctor regularly throughout pregnancy, and ask about preparing for breastfeeding
• Stop smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs before pregnancy
• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly as recommended by your doctor

Dental
• Visit the dentist before first birthday for regular checkups
• Help brush your child’s teeth until the age of eight
• Brush twice daily, morning and night, with a fluoride toothpaste
• Choose water instead of soda and juice
• Avoid passing bacteria to your child by not sharing food and utensils

Active Lifestyle
• Exercise and play as a family a minimum of one hour a day
• Reward your child with an activity, not food
• Give gifts that are fitness-oriented
• Encourage your child to walk instead of using a stroller
• Turn off the TV and read, talk and dance together

Safety at Home
• Never leave infants or children unattended in a bathtub or pool area
• Keep household products and medicine out of your child’s reach
• Cover electrical outlets and pull drape or blind cords out of baby’s reach
• Don’t leave children alone around open flames, stove or candles
• Do not cover your baby’s face or head when he or she is asleep

Safety outside the home
• Always put sunscreen on your child before playing outside
• Avoid asphalt – use playgrounds with rubber, wood, mulch or sand surfaces
• Teach children to never run, push or jump on others around water
• Caution your child not to play in deserted areas
• Teach your children to avoid people they don’t know

Reading
• Read out loud to your child every day
• Set a regular time to visit the library
• Teach your child new words
• Let your child see you reading books, newspapers and magazines
• Watch educational programs together

Safety on the road
• Select the correct type of car seat for your child’s age and weight
• Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats until they are one year old or 22 lbs
• Never let your child ride in storage areas or on passengers’ laps
• Teach your child to watch for traffic when playing outside
• Teach your child to always walk, not run, across the street