CONFERENCE URGES HEALTHY LIFESTYLES; PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ASSISTING KIDS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The fifth annual Healthy Lifestyles Conference will focus on enhancing the lives of children.

The conference is scheduled April 26-27 at the Show Me Center.

"This is the first time that we have focused on children for the Healthy Lifestyles conference," said Dr. John (Terry) Pardeck, who is helping plan the conference. "We believe everyone in the community thinks kids are important, and this is one way to really impact on that population of our society."

The program is designed for both parents and professionals, he said.

"We would really like to have parents come out and take part in the conference."

Three keynote speakers are scheduled to speak on different child-related topics throughout the conference.

Larry Campbell, executive director of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri, will speak April 26 at noon. Campbell will discuss sex education at home. He hopes to teach parents the value of actively teaching children about sex with the goal of helping them make decisions using values which parents have helped instill.

Donald B. Ardell, an innovator in the field of wellness, will speak April 26 at 7 p.m. He will discuss addiction to excellence and why he believes this addiction is a good thing.

And dancer John Taylor, who has created KinderCise exercise programs for children will speak April 27 at 11 a.m. He will work directly with children, sharing his enthusiasm for dancing and learning.

The conference begins April 26 at 8:30 a.m. with a series of concurrent sessions including childcare options in the workplace and two-career couples.

Other sessions planned April 26 include teen pregnancy, developing self esteem, nutrition, latchkey children and laughter as therapy.

Concurrent sessions begin again April 27 at 8:30 a.m. Presenters will talk about ways to make learning math fun, child development and puppetry, among other topics.

"The issues we are addressing at the conference are issues which we face in society. From daycare to teen pregnancy, it runs the gamut," Pardeck said.

"In the sessions, we are trying not to talk about the negative, but build on positive things we can try to do," he said.

"This is really a collective effort," said Pardeck. Sponsors of the conference are Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri Arts Council, Kiwanis International, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, and Procter and Gamble Paper Products.

The advance registration deadline is April 15. For more information or to register, call 651-2676.