Every parent wants to do what's best for their child. That's an easy thing to say but a harder thing to do in our every day life. Over the past year, Healthy Lifestyle Choices met with groups of parents throughout the Greater New Orleans area. We listened to your hopes, your challenges, and your fears for your children. Then we talked to experts in psychology, child development and behavior change communication. We took their experience and created this booklet as a resource for parents. It will help you talk to your children, listen to your children, and nurture your children - in short, it will help you light the way for a safer, healthier future.

Children want their parents to talk to them. They want to be heard, understood, and loved. Talking to your child, not just once, but every day, is perhaps the most important thing you can do to help them avoid risks that can hurt them or claim their life. This book will help you talk to your children, set rules, and practice positive discipline.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices is a non-profit organization working to give children the knowledge and skills they need to reduce risk behaviors, including violence, substance abuse, accidental injury, poor nutrition, and a lack of regular exercise. The program includes a behavior-based curriculum in 56 local public schools, a hands-on interactive museum exhibit at the Louisiana Children's Museum based on the curriculum messages, a mobile exhibit that travels to area schools, television and radio messages for children and parents, and community health advisory councils.

For more information about Healthy Lifestyle Choices visit our website at www.hlconline.org or call 504-299-1966.