Dear Parents,

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), an organization of advance practice nurses committed to teaching parents and children why being healthy matters, writes Ready, Set, Grow (Raising Healthy Kids) just for you — the busy, caring parent. Responses from you and our members have been so positive that the number of issues published couldn't keep up with the demand. And, as good as previous issues were, the things we learned from them have made this Fall 2012/Winter 2013 issue even better. We have added new articles with important new information on many topics.

As you read through the pages that follow, you'll find a quick and relevant guide, with answers to the questions most parents have about their children's health. Use this publication to learn about nutrition and fitness, growth and development, and many other health issues crucial to families. Written by a panel of NAPNAP experts, Ready, Set, Grow also provides special incentives from sponsors, who make this resource possible.

Ready, Set, Grow reflects NAPNAP's mission: "Promoting optimal health for children through leadership, practice, advocacy, education, and research." Every day, our members help families. Ready, Set, Grow extends our ability to reach and teach families about ways to be healthy and fit.

As the elected President of NAPNAP, I am excited to share with you the information and incentives you'll find on these pages. Please take some time to browse through this issue. We're confident the topics will grab your attention and the incentives will help you stretch your family budget.

Let us know your thoughts about this issue, as well as your suggestions for future topics. E-mail me at president@napnap.org.

Happy and healthy reading,

Susan N. Van Cleve, DNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS
President, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners