skip to Main Content

Healthy Children and Teens

Healthy habits begin at home. Whether you’re a parent, child, teen, or family, we can help you find the right tools and resources to support your needs at any stage or age.

Join these interactive workshops for Kaiser Permanente members

Get the tools and support from trained professionals to help get your family’s health on track wherever you are!

Thriving Families

Families with children 5 to 12 years old can join to reflect on eating challenges at home and gain tools to support and trust children to become healthier eaters.

Teen Kickstart

Teens 13 to 17 years old can join a safe place to interact with their peers while learning about healthy food choices, mindfulness skills, self-care basics, and improving overall well-being.

Register for workshops online

  • Sign in at kp.org
  • Choose “Schedule appointment
  • Choose “Health class or coaching by phone
  • Follow prompts to complete registration
Teen sitting on kitchen counter holding apple on smart phone

Teen Thrive: Taking Care of YourSELF

Join other 12- to 17-year-olds in a weekly interactive online workshop and learn about nutrition basics, surviving social media, tips to move your body, stress management, the power of positive thinking, and much more! Meet us online Tuesdays at 4 to 4:30 p.m. (no need to pre-register), or call 714-748-2714 for more information. This workshop is available to members at no cost.

5 tips for a healthy start

Baby

Eat healthy

Eat healthy

Breast milk is all your baby needs for the first 6 months. If you can, breastfeed your baby whenever he or she seems hungry. When your baby is ready for solid foods, introduce single-ingredient pureed vegetables and fruits.

Stay safe

Stay safe

Never leave your baby unattended. Always use a car seat and watch your baby closely around pets. Remember to put your baby to sleep on their back to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Sleep well

Sleep well

Set a regular schedule for naps and bedtime. Put your baby in a crib in a quiet, dark room when they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them learn to go to sleep on their own.

Make connections

Make connections

The most important way to help your baby grow and develop is to communicate with gentle touch, hugs, and kisses.

Find stage-specific resources

Toddler

Eat healthy

Eat healthy

You control what, when, and where your child eats. Provide healthy foods like low-fat yogurt with fruit or baby carrots with hummus. Your child will decide whether to eat and how much. This will help them know when they are truly satisfied.

Move more

Move more

Play games that encourage walking and movement and go outside when possible. Help your child walk around the yard with push toys, such as play lawn mowers or bubble poppers.

Sleep well

Sleep well

Toddlers need about 12 hours of sleep a day, including naps. Set a bedtime routine. Doing the same things in order every night helps your child know what to expect and sleep better.

Make connections

Make connections

Sit and play, read, and talk to your child. Don’t worry about having playdates and organized activities at this age.

Find stage-specific resources

Preschool

Eat healthy

Eat healthy

Managing a picky eater can be easier when you offer new foods at the start of meals when your child is hungry. Make food simple and recognizable.

Move more

Move more

Going to the playground, joining a gymnastics or dance class, or running races in your backyard allows your child to release excess energy and gain new skills.

Sleep well

Sleep well

Preschoolers need 11 to 12 hours of sleep each day. There’s wiggle room about exact sleep times — the most important thing is to develop good, consistent habits for getting to sleep.

Make connections

Make connections

Help your child play with other children. Preschool and play groups can be a great way for children to learn to interact.

Find stage-specific resources

Grade School

Eat healthy

Eat healthy

Swap junk food with fruits and vegetables for snacks. Find at least one healthy item from each food group that your child likes, and make sure it is readily available most of the time.

Move more

Move more

Make time for your child to be active every day. Limit TV and computer time to one hour a day or less.

Sleep well

Sleep well

School-age children need plenty of sleep to learn and develop socially. Have your child go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.

Make connections

Make connections

Children this age make new friends often and become more empathetic. Talk about the qualities that make a good friend and how your child can show these qualities to others.

Find stage-specific resources

Teen

Eat healthy

Eat healthy

Help your teen choose healthy snacks, make wise food choices at fast food restaurants, and not skip meals. Make it a point to eat meals together at home as often as you can.

Move more

Move more

Encourage your teen to use screen time to move with video dance games or virtual sports simulators. Suggest they break up long periods of sitting with activities like yoga stretches.

Sleep well

Sleep well

Growing teens need a lot of sleep. If your teen is going to bed at a very late hour, suggest that they go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until the best bedtime is reached.

Make connections

Make connections

Social connections help teens feel good about themselves. Encourage your teen to join a social group, club, or sports team at school, or volunteer for a cause they care about.

Find stage-specific resources

Wellness Tools

Back To Top