Tips for Teaching Your Children About Good Health and Well-being

     April 7 is designated as World Health Day by the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency within the United Nations composed of 193 countries.   According to its Constitution, the WHO’s main objective is "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health".  The theme this year is “our planet, our health”, and the WHO’s website states that it “will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being.”

     There are health and well-being resources that parents can access to share with their children.  Some resources include the following:

• A WHO PowerPoint that introduces children to health and well-being;

• A PowerPoint on “Depression-Let’s Talk” as a child’s mental health is critical for the child’s development: 

• An emotions board game to help teach children about their emotions;

• A resource pack with recipes for healthy eating; and

• A self-care printable pack.

     Be sure to spend some time this week discussing these issues to help your children learn about the WHO and the importance of having and promoting good health, not only in your family or community, but also throughout the world.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://www.who.int/

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2022

https://nationaltoday.com/world-health-day/

Children’s Mental Health Matters!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and there is much being done to promote the importance of mental health in our communities especially due to all we have gone through as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.   When we talk about mental health awareness, we must include our children as well.

            The American Psychological Association has some surprising news for us: about 1 in 5 children has a diagnosable mental health disorder and “child and adolescence mental health problems are at a point of crisis for our nation”.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that mental health in childhood is “reaching developmental and emotional milestones, and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s WIC Program also understands the importance of children’s mental health, stating that we must raise the awareness of the “significant role mental health plays in overall health and wellness and how vital positive mental health is to a child's development and everyone's well-being.”

            What can parents do to help their children?  The CDC website page shown below provides important information for parents.  It has wide variety of articles on such topics as what works for the treatment of disruptive behavioral problems and getting the facts on anxiety and depression in children.  There are even recommendations as to how to talk to your children about Covid 19. 

            The key is for parents to monitor their children.  Be aware of their moods and activities.  If parents notice anything different or concerning, they should immediately seek professional help for their child.  

 To learn more, please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/index.html https://www.apa.org/advocacy/health/children

https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/2021-childrens-mental-health-awareness-week-and-mental-health-month