CONFERENCE EXAMINES LIFESTYLES

The fifth annual Healthy Lifestyles Conference Friday and Saturday is aimed at making life better for Cape Girardeau's children.

About 250 adults are expected to attend the conference at the Show Me Center. One session is planned Saturday specifically for children.

Deborah Wooldridge, co-chairman of the conference, said: "The structure of the family has changed so much. Families are giving responsibility for children to other institutions like day cares and schools, or organizations like scouts or sports. A lot of other people are impacting on lives of children."

She said the conference includes information for professionals teachers, day-care providers, counselors and doctors who work with children. Information is also available to help parents become better parents, Wooldridge said.

"Ultimately, we hope to improve the quality of life for children," she said.

Featured speakers for the two-day conference will be:

Larry Campbell, executive director of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri and president of the Missouri Association of Home Health Agencies.

Donald Ardell, author of the book, "High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs and Disease."

John Taylor, a former teacher at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and creator of "KinderCise."

Campbell will speak at noon Friday on "Sexuality Education at Home" and the importance of parental values for children.

Wooldridge said Campbell is an expert in the field of sexuality. "He specializes in helping parents to talk to their children about sex and how to include lessons about values and decision-making in the discussion."

Ardell, who has been involved in the "wellness" movement throughout the country, is slated to speak at 7 p.m. Friday. His session is titled "Addition to Excellence: Steps to a Wellness Lifestyle."

Wooldridge said: "Ardell is really the guru of the wellness movement. He will be telling people how to be well; his rules for having a healthy life."

Taylor will present the one program designed to include children Saturday at 11 a.m.

Wooldridge said Taylor teaches musical arts. "He combines dance and music in an effort to help children be creative," she said. "He travels all over the United States doing these programs."

In addition to the three keynote speakers, concurrent sessions are planned Friday and Saturday featuring a variety of topics. Many of the speakers are local experts, Wooldridge said.

"We tried to tap into local people and their expertise," she said. "A lot of the presenters work in child development or social work."

The event is sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University, St. Francis Medical center, the Missouri Arts Council, Kiwanis International, Southeast Missouri Hospital and Procter and Gamble Paper Products Co.

Individuals may attend all or parts of the conference. Registration fees may be paid at the door.

For more information, call 651-2676.