The Healthy Playbook

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Teaming Up for a Healthier Future

Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and defensive tackle Maason Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars have joined the huddle with Nemours Children’s doctors and nurses to build a gameplan for creating the healthiest generation of children. Together, we’re giving families a playbook on fitness, nutrition, literacy, and mental health.

It takes a whole team, working together, making the right calls today for a healthier tomorrow.

This is our healthy playbook.

Follow these plays and we give our kids the best chance to win.

The Healthy Playbook

The Gameplan

Plays for Fitness

Support Their Strengths

Find Ways to Be Active

Hydrate Like a Pro

Stretch The Right Way

Fitness

Nutrition

Literacy

Mental Health

Plays for Nutrition

Eat Meals Together

Snack Smart

Shop Healthy

Read the Label

Plays for Literacy

Bring a Book

Visit the Library

Read Before Bed

Give Kids Plenty to Read

Tackle the Morning Routine

Talk It Out

Validate Their Feelings

Set Screen Time Boundaries

Plays for Mental Health

As part of Florida’s largest pediatric orthopedics program, our Pediatric Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center spans three locations and includes surgeons, sports medicine doctors, rehabilitation specialists, athletic trainers, and more, all working together to help kids get back into the games they love faster.

Our renowned registered dietitian nutritionists are a critical part of our multidisciplinary approach to care, working to ensure our patients get both the nutrients they need to heal during treatment and the services they need to maintain a healthy diet at home.

Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart! is an online resource containing research-based articles, activities, book recommendations, and services — including a free preschool reading screener — to help every child become a capable reader.

If you have concerns about your child’s behavior, mood, or safety, our Pediatric Acute Telemental Health (PATH) Program offers quick access to video visits with a mental health counselor or social worker for kids and teens.

Let kids choose a sport they enjoy or excel at, and they’ll be more likely to want to participate. Read more about motivating kids to be physically active.

If a child isn’t interested in team sports, things like swimming and biking are great alternatives. Get ideas for individual sports or non-competitive activities.

It’s more than a mid-game thirst quencher; make sure kids are also drinking enough water before and after exercise to prevent dehydration. See how water compares to sports drinks or energy drinks.

Dynamic (or movement-based) stretching can be a better way to reduce muscle tightness, increase range of motion, and prevent injury. Check out our dynamic stretching routine.

Letting your child get themselves dressed and ready independently helps them develop coping skills and confidence. Here are some other ways to boost your child’s self-esteem.

When your child is feeling stressed and lashing out, encourage them to put their feelings into words as a way to help them work through it. Here are some additional tips for helping your child manage stress.

Is your child anxious about something? Try saying “I understand” instead of “There’s nothing to worry about.” There are many ways you can help your child address their worries and overcome them.

Establishing your child’s bedroom as an “unplugged zone” can help prevent screen time from interfering with homework or sleep. Read more about media consumption guidelines and suggestions to minimize unhealthy side effects.

Waiting in a restaurant or on a long car ride? Having your kids read is a healthy way to pass the time. Discover more everyday reading opportunities.

The library is a fun — and free! — place to spend an afternoon when your kids are looking for something new to do. It’s so much more than a place to borrow books. See what else the library has to offer.

Make reading a book to your child part of the nightly bedtime routine. It establishes a healthy habit and can lead to better sleep. Learn more about healthy reading habits.

Keeping a variety of reading materials in the home, from books and magazines to comics and educational games, will increase the amount of time your child spends doing it. Learn more about creating a reader-friendly home.

In addition to the quality time together, family dinners are a great opportunity to show your kids what healthy eating looks like. See more benefits of regular family meals.

Creating a schedule for snacks can stop kids from grazing when they aren’t hungry and prevent overeating. Check out our suggestions for healthy snacks and snacking habits.

Stocking your pantry with healthier options leads to children making better choices. Here are some tips for healthier grocery shopping.

Checking the nutrition information will often make you think twice before making an unhealthy choice. Need help understanding the nutrition facts? We’ve got you covered.

Our medical, academic, and research collaborations bring world-renowned treatments right here to Northeast Florida. In Jacksonville, more than 175 Nemours pediatric specialists provide life-changing care for newborns, children, and teens.

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We have a variety of specialties and services to help support these healthy plays for fitness, nutrition, literacy, and mental health. It’s how we go well beyond medicine as we aim to reimagine children’s health.

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More than 80% of what affects a child’s health takes place in their home, school, and community. That’s why we developed a healthy playbook. We understand that creating long-term health requires a focus on both medical and nonmedical factors. At Nemours Children’s, we call this Whole Child Health.

A Winning Drive for Children’s Health

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