http://wwwteamnutriition.usda.go/library.html

Some foods are easy for young children to choke on when swallowing because they are the same size and shape as a child’s airway.  For example, peanuts may block the lower airway.  A chunk of hotdog or a whole grape may completely block the upper airway.   In general, you should avoid serving foods that are wide as a nickel, which is about the size of a young child’s throat.  Foods that are likely to cause choking come in many shapes, sizes and textures.  They include foods that are round, tube shaped, small, hard, thick and sticky, smooth, slippery or easily molded to stick to the airway...

Active play also develops children’s confidence in their ability physically.   Active play helps children build their bones.  Habits learned early in life can create lifelong physical activity habits...

• Physical activity is important for everyone, but how much you need depends on your age. Here are the recommendations from the USDA.
• ADULTS
• (18 to 64 years)
• Adults should do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity at a moderate level OR 1 hour and 15 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity at a vigorous level. Being active 5 or more hours each week can provide even more health benefits. Spreading aerobic activity out over at least 3 days a week is best. Also, each activity should be done for at least 10 minutes at a time. Adults should also do strengthening activities, like push-ups, sit-ups and lifting weights, at least 2 days a week.
• CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
• (6-17 years)
• Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity eac...

When was the last time you saw a toddler playing with their parents i-phone happily?  I suspect it was yesterday.  It seems that the new developmental stages are roll over…crawl…hold a hand held device…then walk.  Most parents of older children look at new parents with envy at all the convenient electronics available to them to occupy their child-most especially when they are at a resturant.  I didn’t even know what the inside of a resturant looked like when my now 17 year old was a baby.  And forget about plane rides.  Years later my back still hurts from the humungous bags of toys I had to carry on planes just in case I had to occupy her for the whole trip.  As an exhausted parent I certainly see what a God sent these modern conveniences are...

Phyiscal activity is imperative for your child both physically and mentally.  As a matter of fact, the CDC has found that physical education has a positive impact on academic performance. The correlation between physical activity and academic success stem from many-not so obvious-areas of early education.  First,  excersise helps maintain strong muscles which support both large muscles groups for activities like running and jumping  but also small muscles groups for holding pencils, using sissors, turing pages etc.  In addition, social success in young children revolves around how they interact with each other in both small and large groups.  In this repect the playground becomes their universal language...