When kids receive the same messages about healthy eating at school and at home, they learn that nutrition is important. Plan now to promote healthy eating by
* making sure your kids take healthy snacks and lunches to school;
* helping your school set an example by selling healthy food;
* using fundraising activities, school celebrations, and non-food […]
Think about it. Not only do your kids spend about 1,150 hours a year at school, but childhood is the best time to make healthy choices a habit.
It only makes sense, then, to involve everyone in the school community (students, teachers, parents, and community members) in promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and mental health.
This article […]
As a parent, you may have heard the term “daily physical activity” or “DPA.” This article will give you:
* More information about what daily physical activity means.
* Why it’s important.
* How it can work in your child’s school.
* How to support your school’s efforts to encourage kids to be more physically active in school.
What Daily […]
When you went to school, chances are you took physical education, although you probably just called it “gym.”
This article explains some of the differences between physical activity and physical education. It outlines the different benefits each provides and helps you understand your role as a parent in supporting physical activity and physical education in your […]
Between kindergarten and Grade 12, children and teenagers enjoy literally thousands of lunches and snacks at school.
Packing a variety of healthy foods will help make sure your child gets all of the nutrients he or she needs. In addition, healthy eating fuels brain development and learning.
This article offers you information about:
* Planning healthy eating.
* Ways […]
School fundraising provides needed dollars for many “extras” like athletics and music. Although some fundraisers are quite large, such as a parent council casino, many are small local initiatives.
Unfortunately, many popular fundraisers involve food (often not very healthy food). Even coupon books seem to be filled with fast-food coupons that encourage unhealthy habits.
This article describes […]
Kids can get confused when adults say one thing and do another. And it’s even more confusing when parents, teachers and other adults say and do different things.
This article offers you ways to model healthy living for your children and students. The article:
* Explains why consistent modelling or demonstrating healthy behaviour is important.
* Lists […]
When kids feel part of their school community and are cared for by people at their school, they are less likely to get into trouble. They also have higher levels of emotional well-being.
This feeling of belonging, often called “connectedness,” can be especially important during times of stress or when difficult decisions have to be made.
Adults […]
The coming of spring means that school field days are right around the corner. Track and field days are a popular event that the whole school community can enjoy.
Unfortunately, this type of day often involves only a few kids participating at a time. The overall activity level can be quite low.
This article lets you know […]
Are boys and girls interested in the same kinds of physical activity?
Do all boys like hockey, and all girls like dance? The short answer is “no.”
That said, interests and participation in physical activity do tend to differ depending on gender.
If we want to encourage both boys and girls to be more physically active, we need […]