Healthy Kids and Families

Elaine Johnson

Parents influence children’s health and well-being from the inside out. While our kids won’t always do what we say, they are watching what we do.

What sort of health habits do we want them to learn from us?

The good news is, Philadelphia’s kids are getting healthier, but there’s still more to do to ensure all our children thrive and grow into healthy adults.You can help kids:

  • Be active for an hour each day.
  • Drink water or low-fat milk instead of sugary drinks.
  • Have active adult role models.

Active kids are happier kids:

Only one in every five Philadelphia teens gets their recommended daily hour of physical activity (and girls are much less active than boys). Being active is important because it:

  • Strengthens bones and muscles
  • Increases energy and attention span
  • Reduces anxiety and depression
  • Improves mood
  • Reduces the risk of diabetes and other diseases

Find out more about Philly’s opportunities for:


What are your kids drinking?

Active kids need water and low-fat milk to stay hydrated! They do NOT need sugary drinks, which are packed with empty calories, and contribute to diabetes, obesity and tooth and bone decay.

Sugary drinks to avoid include:

  • Soda
  • Iced tea
  • Sports drinks
  • Energy drinks
  • Fruit drinks
  • Flavored water
  • Even many fruit juices

Learn more about healthy diets for all ages.


Learn more about Board of Health recommendations: