This book notes that much of what children and adolescents know about life they learn from watching adult role models: teachers, parents, coaches, and clergy members. It was written to help adults examine their health-related beliefs and actions and evaluate how they model these beliefs and actions, consciously and unconsciously, to children. The chapters include overviews, self-assessments, and lists of actions necessary to provide positive messages in the critical health areas of self-esteem, nutrition, fitness, substance use prevention, stress management, and health and safety. The book begins with a discussion in chapter 1 of why models matter and why educators and parents need to become partners in assessing the messages they give children. Chapter 2 looks at the development of self-esteem. Chapter 3 discusses children's eating habits and the messages about food that are conveyed to children in their school and home environments. It includes suggestions for creating positive, healthy attitudes toward food and developing healthful eating patterns. Ways of assessing how well the school and family environments support regular exercise and the modeling of physical fitness are presented in chapter 4. Chapter 5 focuses on substance use. Chapter 6 examines stress and identifies positive ways of coping with everyday stressors. Chapter 7 guides the reader through the contemplation of his/her own attitudes and actions relating to health habits, injury prevention, and safety. (Author/NB)