Home and Family

Pebbling is the practice of sending these memes, or “pebbles,” as an appreciation practice for couples, friends and family. The term comes from the behavior of Gentoo penguins, who present rocks to other penguins they are bonding with to use in nesting.

Between busy schedules and other daily chores, it’s easy to forget or put off changing your sheets as often as you should. Regularly washing your bed sheets is essential to maintain a clean and healthy sleeping environment.

How much exercise do my children need to stay healthy? And what does exercise look like for a child? Walking 12,000 steps a day is a great way to get started.

Although getting the kids outside is important and still an option in the winter, the temperature and wind-chill require caution.

Nearly half of American children have had a cavity filled or are dealing with an untreated cavity. While brushing and flossing daily along with regular dental exams are the best preventive measures against cavity, it’s also important to understand how cavities form.

In the six to eight weeks following childbirth, women are in the postpartum period. As you transition to motherhood, your body is also healing and recovering after pregnancy and childbirth.

The thrill of whooshing down a sledding hill is fun for all ages. But sledding comes with risks, too.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were more than 200,000 emergency department visits for toy-related injuries in the United States in 2022. Before checking off the holiday shopping list, here are some important safety tips to keep in mind:

Filling a reusable bottle is a cheaper and healthier option than using plastic, disposable water bottles. With so many options in the market, you might be overwhelmed with where to begin.

The holiday season often brings an abundance of indulgent foods. While it’s OK to enjoy your favorite foods, it’s a good idea to mix in nutrient-dense and vegetable forward options with the traditional spread.

Take a break from the normal holiday shopping routine while being kind to the environment at the same time by making handmade, DIY gifts. Here are some ideas.

Each year, thousands of traffic accidents are caused by distracted driving and as recently as 2022, distracted driving caused more than 3,000 deaths. Even so, more than 45% of drivers have admitted to texting or reading their phone while driving, and even more eat, talk on the phone or reach around their car while driving.

Keep the festive decorating tradition alive with these creative candy alternatives that allow you to maintain a healthier holiday for the whole family. These ideas will not only help you curb candy cravings, but they will also allow you to stand out in your next gingerbread decorating contest.

More than half of Americans drink more during the holiday season. For some, this increased alcohol intake results in hangovers or even missed work. For others, it interferes with their health goals and can have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Are your child's toys safe? Each year, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized due to toy-related injuries.

Thanksgiving may be a meat-centric celebration, but the seasonal flavors of this fall holiday lend themselves well to healthy, hearty and wholesome vegetarian – and gluten-free dishes. Ditch the tofurkey and plan a menu with comfort at the core.

When you have a picky eater in your family, this can cause stress leading up to and during the holiday meal. Here are some ideas and recipes that can help your picky eater join in on the Thanksgiving dinner.

While Americans report finding joy and excitement around traditional holidays, almost 9 in 10 also say they also experience stress leading up to and during holiday celebrations. While you can’t avoid all sources of stress, planning ahead and setting personal or social boundaries can help to manage or minimize stress.

The AHA and USDA both recommend a daily sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg, or about one teaspoon of salt, with an ideal limit of 1,500 mg a day for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure. However, many Americans get more than 2,000 mg of sodium in an average Thanksgiving dinner.

Being born early can mean serious health risks for infants, particularly in their brain and lungs. The range of premature birth spans several weeks, and premature babies will require more care.

Did you know that many cleaning supplies can not only be bad for the environment, but also for your health? While cleaning is a necessary part of our everyday lives, many cleaning supplies can irritate the eyes or throat, cause headaches or other health problems.

As the seasons start to change, make it a goal to keep your kids active and outside. Michigan fall is a beautiful time to get your kids involved in nature while letting them be creative and hands-on.

Now that I’m in my 20s, I’ve learned to appreciate the simplicity of getting together with my friends and family and enjoying each other’s company over a good meal. But when it comes down to it, I’m still a kid at heart. Why stop having themed parties when you’re an adult?

Silk pillowcases and other silk accessories such as wraps, scarves and bonnets have become increasingly popular for their benefits for hair and skin. These silk head accessories have been a cornerstone of Black hair experiences to protect natural and braided hairstyles long before they were more widely adopted as a healthy hair technique. Now the use of silk material has become more popular regardless of hair type.

Yoga is known for its health benefits, including increased flexibility, increased strength, improved sleep and the ability to help with chronic pain and inflammation. Many of these benefits apply to kids as well. Learn how to introduce yoga to kids with these tips and yoga poses.

Healthy childhood eating habits help shape a child’s body image perception, relationship with food and chronic disease risk later in life.

Supporting a sick loved one is something that nothing can truly prepare a family for. It can be stressful enough going about your day-to-day life and trying to be supportive of each other, but when you add supporting a family member through illness, daily life activities can become more challenging.

Having a family member in assisted living can be difficult for everyone involved. People who move into assisted living can struggle with a loss of independence, leaving their home or fears of fewer family visits. Family members of those in assisted living may feel guilt, helplessness and concern.

Fall is a wonderful time of year, filled with crisp air, beautiful foliage and plenty of festivals across the state of Michigan. Here are five unique fall festivals that are perfect for the whole family to enjoy:

Sharing meals is a great way to spend more time with your family and friends. It turns out there are multiple benefits to health and well-being from sharing meals, including improved eating habits, reduces stress and tension, improved self-image in kids, and improved family relationships.

Reading out loud to your kids is a great way to spend time together and has multiple educational and emotional benefits for both kids and adults. Time spent together with books and stories can help kids’ reading and comprehension skills, as well as be a centering and calming practice for everyone involved, especially when reading together is part of a routine.

Practicing self-compassion at this time is important for your mental health. You’re going through a major life change, which takes time to adjust to.

Multivitamins may seem like an easy way to ensure kids get the vitamins and minerals they need, but are they necessary? In healthy children, it’s best to get minerals and vitamins through a wide range of healthy foods. 

Properly preparing for fall sports during the summer months is essential for the health and safety of young athletes.

Creating a gentle routine for your kids is important for their development and well-being. Knowing what to expect helps children feel more safe and secure.

Kids lose up to two months of education in the summer months. Use these tricks to keep them sharp all summer long.

Lack of structure in the summer can lead to mindless snacking. Try these swaps to help kids eat right this summer.

It’s tempting to romanticize childhood as a time where the biggest concerns are who to sit with in the cafeteria, what your summer plans are, and what to spend your allowance on. Reality during childhood can often be a lot different than the ideal.

Hot air balloons offer the chance to see the breathtaking sight of different colors flying through the sky and learn about the physics of the balloons. There are plenty of opportunities across the state to see these spectacles. We have a list of a few different locations and dates where you can see a hot air balloon festival in Michigan.

Water bottles are traveling everywhere with you and collecting the germs from places you go. From errands to work to an outdoor soccer game on the weekends, your water bottle straw is picking up bacteria in those areas.

Every year it can be a challenge to come up with something new and exciting to celebrate the father figure in your life. What to do for a man who has done so much for you? We’re here to help you come up with ideas to honor the father figure in your life.

Hear from Dr. Amy McKenzie on how to recognize and cope with students who are struggling with a learning disability.

Looking for something fun and healthy to do this weekend? Check out these ideas to usher in the unofficial start of summer.

Do you have plans this Memorial Day Weekend? Stop by one of the many parades and celebrations happening all over Michigan. Find a Memorial Day celebration near you.

Making something for mom is special - you don’t have to break the bank to make her feel celebrated. Alongside something crafty, preparing some special dishes for mom is a great way to celebrate her.

These refreshing shrimp bites combine a balance of sweet from the crisp watermelon and spicy from the jalapeño. Simply prepare a sauce, marinate the shrimp and cook for a short time before assembly.

These savory roll-ups are easy to make and are loaded with nutrients. Zucchini slices are grilled until grill marks appear and softened for rolling. They’re then filled with a mixture of ricotta, sundried tomato, fresh basil and lemon

It’s time to get those Mother’s Day plans in order. Here are some food and activity-based ideas that the whole family is sure to enjoy.

May 6 to May 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week this year. It is common to celebrate teachers during this week with events, gifts, and an outpouring of appreciation and respect for teachers and their work. Here are some examples of acts that students and parents can use to show their appreciation for teachers.

Vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year and protect not only those receiving the vaccine, but also everyone around them, particularly those with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A Michigan mom shares the story of her family’s journey with autism and how she wants more understanding for people like her son.

For people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, spaces that are too-bright or too-loud can be painfully overwhelming. Sensory-friendly activities can help.

We're used to celebrating our children's big milestone moments. But it can be valuable for both the parent and the child to celebrate the smaller triumphs, too.

Feeding and eating disorders are considered mental health disorders and medical illnesses. Understanding the types, signs and symptoms is important, regardless of an individual’s age and gender. 

Limiting certain foods and teaching dental hygiene habits at a young age can lead to a lifetime of healthy behaviors while preventing cavities in the process. 

How can you help kids make healthy choices when they buy lunch? It’s important to educate children on nutrition and how to make healthy decisions on their own.

Are you caring for an aging parent? Here's how to approach difficult topics like caregiving and end of life planning.

Children make the holidays brighter. Make sure you set aside some special activities just for them, like the five ideas listed here.

Ready to make your own natural cleaners? We’ll show you how.

Do you love to let the holidays linger? When is the right time to take down your Christmas tree?

If your green thumb needs a new project, try starting an indoor winter garden.

There's a lot to juggle when setting out to host a family gathering. Before you host yours, give these five tips a glance.

Contributor Julie Edgar of the AAA 1-B offers advice on how caregivers of older adults can navigate holiday family gatherings to make them fun and manageable.

Cold weather means your furnace is kicking on, and drying out the air in your home.

Stressed out over holiday gift-giving? Fear not: We’ve brainstormed healthy finds that fit all budgets and personalities.

It comes down to personal choice, but there’s a lot to consider when deciding between a real Christmas tree and an artificial one.

The average kid is likely going to consume between 3,500 and 7,000 calories from candy on Halloween. This is the equivalent of up to three cups of sugar. -- and can be hard for kids to brush off of their teeth. Here are some tips to navigate the sugar rush of Halloween, and how to keep kids' teeth clean and healthy.

Knife-related hand injuries soar around Halloween for kids and teens. Here are some safety hacks for pumpkin carving.

Building healthy habits at home is a great way to teach children and teens behaviors that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Think about the signature scent you would like to create – or even a different one for each room.

Simmer pot recipes are an easy, affordable and natural way to have your home smelling good. Check out our recipes.

Welcome to A Healthier Michigan! We’ve got a fresh new look and new design features that are ready to help everyone in Michigan get healthier – from the inside out.

Registered dietician Shanthi Appelö shares five tips for how to shop smarter and healthier in the grocery store.

Children can react to vision problems with signs and symptoms like distractibility and hyperactivity that could be confused with those of ADHD.

Want to sharpen your child’s cooking skills early? These easy, creative tips can make for a fun family experience in the kitchen.

Summertime can be a busy season for kids and sports. Here’s a few tips to keep active kids healthy.

There are 72 million fathers across the U.S. Here’s how to show appreciation on Father’s Day.

Often unpaid caregivers sacrifice their health and well-being to meet the needs of a loved one. Here are some tips from the experts on how to ask for help.

Offices, classrooms and even restaurants often have signs that warn of food allergies. Here’s how parents can stay ahead of them.

From Detroit to Holland to Kalamazoo, there are Mother’s Day markets, outdoors events and live shows happening all over Michigan in 2023.

Parents of children who have autism may feel the need for some extra support. Here’s how to find it.

One of the most common chronic illnesses in children is obesity – affecting more than 14.4 million children in the U.S. today.

Accessible and Inclusive Playgrounds Around the State

Cravings come and go, but healthy eating during pregnancy is easy to accomplish.

Warm weather is a great time to get outside with your kids. Give these age-group specific activities a try this spring!

About 7% of U.S. children between age 3 and 17 have diagnosed anxiety. Rates are rising, but mindfulness-based coping techniques can help.

People are cooking more and eating in. Research shows there are many benefits associated with eating together as a family.

There are plenty of ways to take the carefree “Yes Day” concept into summer for a healthy way to connect with your kids. Here are some suggestions.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for kids. Here are two healthy breakfast ideas for children.

Most bouts with a cold can be handled at home, but other times your body may send warning signs that professional medical help is needed.

Losing a pet can be very difficult. They’re more than just animals. Often, they are beloved members of the family.

Practice speaking clearly with these 5 easy speech techniques to help you feel more confident.

Getting your kids excited about produce has a lot to do with how parents approach it, and how you add in the fun.

Teaching kids container gardening can help them create a great relationship with fresh foods and healthy eating.

Keeping your preschooler healthy can be difficult. Check out these simple reminders to help strengthen their immune system and teach healthy habits.

One-third of children are overweight or obese, leaving room for a host of other health complications. So what can be done to help?

Knowing how to talk to a child about their health is key to empowering them to make smart choices. Here are tips on how to start a dialogue.

When it’s not the “baby blues,” certain symptoms following childbirth could be postpartum depression. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Dr. Angela Seabright advises on the best toys for children and babies this holiday season to help them grow and learn.