Every body wants to do the best for their kids, and with media coverage of overweight and hyperactive kids and problems with hair loss and social problems, sometimes it is a minefield of information to plough through.

Kids today are under a lot of subtle pressures, and I think that the more we can simplify their lives, and involve them in in social responsibility at home, the more they feel valued in the family and outside.

I am not a child care specialist, I am a loving grandmother, and I would love to share a couple of thoughts with you.

Hair care is important. Children can actually be exposed to quite a heavy chemical load, and I believe that some of the hair loss suffered by children could be reduced by using more natural means. Take head lice for instance; the chemicals in some treatments can be quite fearsome, and there are natural alternatives. Add the glitter, bright colors for special occasions or dress-up, and you have some hefty chemicals.

Check the ingredients on your bubble bath shampoo and conditioners. Don't accept that childrens shampoo is safe, do your research; if Sodium Laurel sulphate [SLS] is in them, find an alternative.

Chemists and even supermarkets are beginning to stock personal care items free of this chemical.

Do an Internet search and find out just how damaging these can be. Change their toothpaste to one without the SLS. Behavior can be greatly influenced by chemical exposure.

How much water do your children get in a day? Are they to busy at play at school to have adequate fluids? Start the day with lots of fluids if you think that is happening, fruit has sneaky fluids, and kids love fruit smoothies, a real treat for breakfast.

After school is also a good time for fruit and salad snacks, and grapes frozen are just like tasty little icy poles. Omega 3's are important for children. If you are having problems including them on a daily basis, try a tasty treat; mash banana and honey, add some ground Linseed, ground or chopped sunflower seeds, and chop up a variety of nuts; cashews, almonds, Brazil, macadamia, walnuts, mix cocoa and coconut until mix is firm, press into balls, and roll the balls in extra coconut.

These taste special, not like a health food at all!

Increase the variety of fruits and vegetables, add them to meatloaf and bolognaise, make a baked pasta and vegetable loaf with eggs, cottage cheese, and grated cheese on top and watch it disappear!

Change your recipes a little each time, so they get subtle changes of flavor in their favorite dishes.

Reduce the amount of nitrates in their food; preservatives can be so harmful. Most kid love hot dogs and sausages, but try to reduce these, or buy ones with reduced preservatives. Chemical free meats are not much more expensive than supermarkets, especially when you watch for the specials, and so much better.

There are many ways to reduce the amount of chemicals we use in our homes, when you look at the variety of cleaners, disinfectants, liquid soaps, detergents we use in our homes, they cost a fortune when you add it all up, and they cost us our health as well.

There is a mountain of information on the web about increasing our immunity by using fresh natural foods, if we reduce the harmful substances in our homes as well we will feel better, look better, and be happier!