by Coleen Smith posted in Parenting

As a mom of three young kids, my recipe for family sanity is pretty simple. Start with coffee, add a little sunshine, and we're good to go. While the coffee?s just for Mommy, the sunshine is good for all of us. Mentally and physically, the sun has proven its health value over the centuries. That?s because our bodies need sun to produce Vitamin D -- an important vitamin that can affect bone health, depression, certain cancers, and more.

I've always had a very personal connection with the sun, and I spent every summertime day either at the pool or the beach. I also enjoyed walks to the park or just hanging outside with my mom while she sketched whatever scenery was around. Hands down, those are the happiest memories of my childhood and I want that for my kids, too. Since I've had a baby in tow for most of the past 5 years, I know it's not always easy to get out. But I've learned we're all better off if we get our daily dose of Vitamin D, so here are my tried-and-true tips for making that happen, all year long. Be a sun-chaser. When it's cold, figure out what parks near you have full sun, so you can bask in the much-needed warmth. In the heat of the summer, frequent parks with a good balance of sun and shade to keep you from sweltering. I keep a "sunny or shady" park list on my fridge (and my phone) for easy reference.

Stroll with the sun. Strollers are a great way to get in some sun all year long. Whether it?s hot or cold ...