Health is one of the least respected topics in public schools. Health education should start in elementary schools and include but not limited to: sex education, body image, physical fitness, disAbility awareness, addiction (age appropriate levels), mental health, bullying, mindfulness, gender expression and identity, food/nutrition*, and sustainable sourcing.
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If these subjects are not taught at school, the majority of children are also not taught comprehensively the same material at home. Once students move on from the public schooling system and they find that they aren't equipped with the right skills, tools and resources to help them with something as simple as finding a therapist, it can be frustrating. Counselors must be equipped to educate students and staff in these subjects.
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How early is too early? First, we should always be teaching about the different ways our health can be affected and how to feel better in our mind, body and spirit. It is important that we teach children about how to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle. It is never too early to be learning alongside children about how our health is always varied and changing.
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*Topics include: the policies and social dynamics that limit access to food, food insecurity, eating disorders (grade level appropriate), farming, nutrition, meal planning, basic cooking classes and budgeting.
One of my favorite ways to describe my mood is through the weather. This is a really fun way for people to envision their feelings as they are always complicated and there are always different patterns of emotions happening at once. This approach provides children the opportunity to be tuned into what the weather is like where they live, when it changes and learn about adaptability. It is a great way to fold in science with something that they can relate to. Even mother nature needs time to cry and reset.
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It is extremely important to not only to children but also for adults to be aware that emotions are allowed to be felt. They are always valid. They are complicated. They are multi-faceted. Feelings and emotions are always changing.
Does anyone else just zone out when they are sitting in a rain storm? I do. Does anyone else feel the wind and the weather when it is coming? This allows me to feel free to feel as I do. Since the weather is constantly changing and brewing, why can't I?
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It's okay to watch movies with kids and have days where you go completely off track of what your planned lesson was supposed to be. People need time to reflect on themselves and learn about themselves and their surroundings. With the world being so fast-paced and modernized, we have lost the most important part of mental health which is relationships. We have to learn how to slow down. It is important to have someone in your life that can help you put words to your emotions and provide emotional support and encouragement, a lot of the time this responsibility falls on solely on the teacher.
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How can my school can get involved in programs that support socio-emotional learning within the classroom?
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It is important to find an approach that is functional and not ridiculous which may take some trial and error but guess what, that's what teaching is. If these activities become another thing that your kids lose interest in, it's because you are doing it wrong! This is hard work but it is also incredibly rewarding for both your students and you. I have listed a few resources below and there are so many more out there so please take the time to do your research so you can do it right while having fun!
MindUp is a great program that schools can adopt as part of their first step to implementing their mental health curriculum to help students learn how to be mindful and aware of their own feelings.
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What is the roles of schools today? This short article from the National Center for Health Education provides tips and relevant background information in relation to comprehensive health education in public schools. It provides an overview of why it is important for schools to get involved and a list of some of the things that should be added into the curriculum.
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Hacking School Discipline is a great book that provides insight into how we can eliminate punishment in schools replacing it with restorative justice that aids in the healing process of trauma in students and improves collaboration and self-regulation.
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Unlocking the door to Learning: Trauma informed classrooms & Transformational learning This article is a bit long but provides an in depth look at trauma informed classrooms and provides training tools and resources to help get you started. It explains how lived trauma affects our brains ability to take in new information and maintain healthy relationships. By understanding this simple psychology, parents and educators can begin to change their practices to reduce stressors to create a sensitive and safe environment for all children to learn.
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Understanding human anatomy is important to your own well-being and encompasses knowledge of gender stereotypes, gender expression and the spectrum of sexuality. It is possible to teach these concepts at a young age when the child's mind is curious and untouched by our ridiculous conformist rules. Kids are like sponges so they will pick up on social cues in their home, through the media and what they see at school about body image and what is desirable vs. what is not. It is important that kids are exposed to different ideas about body image at a young age to instill a better sense of self by not engaging in negative stereotypes or "socially acceptable ideals". Starting at a young age, children can develop eating disorders and low self esteem through their experiences. In order to learn how to stop those negative thoughts and improve self worth we must educate. Through teaching how the media works to destroy your self worth and understanding diversity at varying stages of life, we can help children feel more confident as they grow up.
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Not only is it important for everyone to learn the parts of their own body and how they function but to learn about the body is to become more in tune with our own mental, physical, and spiritual needs. It's about learning your own boundaries, setting limits and giving grace. All of it is connected and that is why it is so important.
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How can we expect children to understand their own bodily functions with all of its complexities if we were never taught that ourselves? How can we as educators or parents/guardians help children to understand themselves and their emotions if they do not know how their own body functions? How can we teach children to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies from a young age so that they are less likely to become obsessed with living up to a certain unattainable body image standard?
" In this classroom, we will respect how people come into this room. We will always respect the way people identify, love, look, learn, speak, dress, and walk. We will never judge someone for asking a question or asking for help. "
It is important for all students to recognize their own abilities and disabilities when it comes to learning in the classroom. Everyone learns differently and everyone needs different tools or strategies when it comes to learning something specific. We cannot expect that every child in our classroom will learn the same way, as such some children need more support than others but that does not diminish their capability to learn nor does it define them.
Educators play a huge part in normalizing the need for assistance in the classroom through inclusive actions, practices and the language they use. Person first language helps to define students by the disAbility they have and stop defining by what a student is.
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Students in your classroom may not have the support that they need to complete their tasks.
It is really easy to teach children and adults alike about the environment and their own lives through different cultural perspectives as well as forward thinking.
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Through guiding children (or yourself!) through the process of learning the how and why we must slow down in our practices that affects the world that we live in. This includes topics such as but not limited to: climate change, weather, agriculture, farming practices, bio-diversity, engineering, architecture, etc.. Children love to play so we must allow them to do what feels natural and through the process of play, they will learn.
Just like we do through practices like mindfulness for our mental health or weight-lifting for physical health,
ENVIRONMENT
Spending time outdoors offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Exposure to natural light can boost vitamin D levels, improve mood, enhance overall well-being. Engaging with nature reduces stress promotes relaxation, and encourages physical activity, which is essential for maintaining a healthy body.
Land-based learning has always been crucial for understanding the deep connection between environment and health, reminding us our surroundings significantly influence our well-being. Our stories and practices reflect this.