Parents' Guide to

Arthur Family Health

By Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Accessible info on allergies, asthma, and kid health.

Website http://pbskids.org/arthur/health/
Arthur Family Health Poster Image

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What’s It About?

Characters from Arthur, the animated PBS Kids series, are featured in videos and games on Arthur Family Health. This online resource provides information to help kids deal with health concerns such as asthma and peanut allergies, plus advice about making nutritious choices and being physically fit. Another section offers tips to help kids process natural disasters and public tragedies. Lesson plans, reading and writing activity ideas, and other extras are available for parents and teachers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

You can use ARTHUR FAMILY HEALTH as a tool to initiate a conversation about health with your kids; it's a solid resource for specific issues that aren't always addressed in a kid-accessible way. Each section provides background information on a different topic -- asthma, peanut allergies, fitness, nutrition, and dealing with a tragedy -- and includes tips for both kids and parents. Interactive games and activities let kids find out how to say "I am allergic to peanuts" in more than a dozen languages; help assemble healthy lunches; or watch videos with real-life kids and characters from PBS Kids' animated Arthur show living a happy, healthy life, despite a peanut allergy or asthma.

Arthur Family Health does a good job of getting the point across quickly and clearly, and its practical suggestions always sound supportive. Families are encouraged to improve their eating habits instead of being told they need to correct mistakes, and the health condition-centric sections never imply kids with allergies or asthma are problematic or flawed. (In fact, the content repeatedly stresses that they aren't the only ones with a health situation that requires a few lifestyle changes.) The cheerful you-can-do-it tone really helps convey the site's positive, important message. Kids get facts and guidance, without judgment, and parents get an overview of food allergies, asthma, and other well-being topics; it's a win-win situation for everyone.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can discuss how to handle a health condition that requires ongoing maintenance, such as a peanut allergy or asthma. Which steps should you take every day to prevent potential issues?

  • Kids with certain health conditions can sometimes feel uncomfortable about being labeled as different. Talk to your child about treating kids with health conditions such as a peanut allergy with respect.

  • Ask your kid to identify weekly exercise and healthy-eating opportunities. How could your family increase your physical activity and improve your nutrition?

Website Details

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