A few things that every grandparent should know, do

Grandparents have a unique impact on our children. Kids, particularly teens, feel that their grandparents provide a special kind of guidance, support, and attention. Youngsters appreciate and need this relationship with someone who loves them unconditionally, but is not burdened by the need to be a disciplinarian.

These positive psychological benefits come with a risk, according to research recently conducted by Dr. Stephanie Chambers and her colleagues at the University of Glasgow in England.

The researchers analyzed 56 international studies that examined the impact of grandparents on a variety of kids’ health behaviors, categorizing such effects as beneficial, adverse, mixed or no impact.

The experts found that grandparents pose a serious health threat to our kids in the areas of tobacco usage, physical activity, diet and weight.

It’s easy to ridicule this research and proclaim that it’s the job of a grandparent to spoil the kids and then send them home to the parents. This may seem cute and harmless, but this research indicates that grandparents, not surprisingly, have a strong impact on their grandkids — which can be either good or bad.

When it comes to smoking, the effect is twofold. Children are not only exposed to the risks of second-hand smoke, but they are also influenced by the behavior of someone they love. Seeing a grandparent smoke sends a much stronger message than any public service announcement on television.

The researchers found that grandparents can have a negative impact on kids’ diets. When grandparents regularly violate healthy food practices, kids learn such rules don’t matter. If food and physical activity were that important, why would someone who loves them go against healthy practices?

Let’s be reasonable. No one is suggesting that occasionally treating grandkids in special ways will permanently harm their health. Rather, this research emphasizes that grandparents are influential and that they need to be mindful of the impact of their behaviors.

Here’s what this means for grandparents:

1. Tone it down a bit. An occasional treat is fine, but don’t undermine parents by allowing bad or unhealthy behaviors. You love your grandkids. The best way to show that love is to teach them how to develop habits that will serve them well into their adulthood, not undermine their parents’ rules.

2. Be a great role model. You can encourage your grandkids’ physical activity by attending their sporting events or taking them to a park. Power down the electronics. Let the kids see you eat well, exercise, take good care of yourself.

3. Don’t smoke in front of the kids — ever! Kids inhaling your second-hand smoke increases the likelihood of you giving them cancer.

Dr. Ramey is the executive director of Dayton Children's Hospital's Pediatric Center for Mental Health Resources and can be contacted at Rameyg@ childrensdayton.org.

Dear Readers: This is the time of year to do good things for people who need help. Contribute food (especially staples and canned goods) to local food banks. Volunteer to deliver meals for the homebound and/ or elderly. Ask your children to give money to or to help out with a cause of their choice. Give books or current magazines to nursing homes, hospitals and libraries. — Heloise

Save money on holiday gift wrapping

Dear Readers: Instead of buying expensive holiday wrapping, you can create your own original wrapping by reusing and recycling materials you have in your house. This will be good for your wallet and the environment. Try these:

■ Tear out the sheets from your children’s coloring books or gather their school artwork and use to wrap gifts for relatives.

■ Save the color comics pages from the newspaper to cover children’s presents.

■ Use pretty scarves that you no longer wear to wrap a friend’s gift.

■ Wrap packages with large pieces of leftover fabric.

■ Have your children make their own artful wrapping paper with the supplies they have at home, like construction paper, pictures, paint and stickers.

■ Reuse gift bows, ribbon and yarn. — Heloise

Candied citrus treat

Dear Readers: This tart holiday treat will be a hit at all of your gatherings during Christmas. To make it: Wash and dice the peels of 4 lemons, 4 oranges and 4 grapefruits. Slowly bring 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup corn syrup and 2 cups of sugar to boil in a medium saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes over low heat and add the peels. Cook for 55 to 60 minutes until all the syrup has been absorbed. Lay the candied peels on a sheet of wax paper that has been sprinkled with sugar. Toss to coat the peels with the sugar. Let sit for 1 to 2 days to dry. Store in the refrigerator. — Heloise

Other uses for fingernail polish

Dear Readers: If you have extra or old polish that you are not using, don’t throw it out because you can put it to good, practical use around the house. Try these three ideas for marking objects with bright or red polish:

1. Identify the most used buttons on your remote control or VCR.

2. Mark levels for measuring amounts on buckets or cups.

3. Mark a light switch that should be left on for safety purposes. This will be very helpful for your elderly parents or relatives. — Heloise

For a longer-lasting Christmas tree

Dear Readers: There’s no secret to making a freshcut fir tree last as long as possible other than basic good care. When you buy the tree, be certain the seller makes a fresh cut straight across the base of the trunk, removing about an inch from the bottom, to help water absorption. As soon as you get the tree home, put it in a stand that’s large enough for the trunk and holds at least one gallon of water.

Check the water level every day to make sure it covers the cut end of the trunk.

Adding sugar or aspirin to the water doesn’t do anything, according to tree experts.

Place the tree away from direct sunlight, fireplaces, wood stoves and other heat sources. — Heloise