1. Cold and Flu Slideshow: Treating Your Child's Cold or Fever
2. Children's Illnesses Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the ADHD Quiz

In this Article

• Why is childhood such an important time for bone development?
• What is osteoporosis? Isn't it something old people get?
• How can I help keep my kids' bones healthy?
• How can I persuade my daughter to drink milk instead of diet soda? She thinks milk will make her fat.
• But my kids don't like milk.
• My teenage son loves milk, but it seems to upset his stomach. Could he have lactose intolerance?
• My daughter is constantly dieting. Should I be concerned?
• Should I give my kids calcium supplements?
• How does physical activity help my kids' bones?
• Is it possible to get too much exercise?
• What else can my kids do besides eating calcium-rich foods and getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise to keep their bones healthy?
• My son has asthma and takes a steroid medication to control it. His doctor said this might affect his bones. Is there anything we can do about this?
• My 8-year-old son is a daredevil and has already broken several bones. could he have a problem like osteoporosis at this young age?
• How can I get through to my kids? They sure don't think about their bones.
• Where can I go for more information?
• Find a local Pediatric Rheumatologist in your town
• Juvenile Bone Health Index

Experts believe calcium should come from food sources whenever possible. However, if you think your children are not getting adequate calcium from their diet, you may want to consider a calcium supplement. For optimal absorption, no more than 500 mg of calcium should be taken at one time.

Muscles get stronger when we use them. The same idea applies to bones: the more work they do, the stronger they get. Any kind of physical exercise is great for your kids, but the best ones for their bones are weight-bearing activities like walking, running, hiking, dancing, tennis, basketball, gymnastics, and soccer. (Children who tend to play outside will also have higher vitamin D levels.) Swimming and bicycling promote your kids' general health, but are not weight-bearing exercises and will not help build bone density. Organized sports can be fun and build confidence, but they are not the only way to build healthy bones.

The most important thing is for your kids to spend less time sitting and more time on their feet and moving. Alone or with friends, at home or at the park, one of the best gifts you can give your kids is a lifelong love of physical activity.