Wellness at Westminster Academy: How We’re Teaching Students About Health, Fitness, Hygiene, and Safety
During the month of February, Westminster Academy is focusing on health and fitness education in our elective period. So, it’s the perfect time to discuss the topic of overall wellness! An emphasis on wellness means actively making choices that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. And not just in a physical sense — there are several “dimensions” of wellness, including mental, physical, emotional, and even spiritual or environmental. Here’s why it’s important to teach children about wellness and how we incorporate wellness into our studies at Westminster Academy. Plus, some healthy habits for kids to have at home.
Why is it important to teach children about health and wellness?
A person’s most formative years are in their childhood. So, teaching kids about healthy habits and wellness can help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they grow older and gain more independence. Early education on wellness can also teach kids self-control, which can lead to them making better choices. Many of us understand how hard it is to break bad habits, so it’s important to establish those good habits early on. A study at Brown University even found that when routines and habits are established early in children, those habits are unlikely to break after the age of 9.
How we educate students on wellness at Westminster Academy
Here at Westminster Academy, we emphasize wellness in several ways! This month, we’re educating students on health, including topics like nutrition, hygiene, safety (fire safety and general safety), and developing habits. We also educate our students on fitness and incorporate exercise into our gym and recess time. At snack time, students must have healthy options — no desserts or sweets! We have a variety of healthy snacks available at school, including granola bars, fruit, nuts, and protein bars.
Lastly, we have an exciting activity that aids in healthy habit-building! Students are encouraged to create and track one healthy habit during the month of February. The student who performs the best receives a small gift card — this incentivizes them to maintain their habits! The goal is to help students establish a habit that will continue even after the month ends.
What are some healthy habits for kids?
We strongly encourage parents to continue educating their children about wellness and healthy habits at home. For example, one simple, good hygiene habit to establish in young children is hand washing. Parents can set an example by washing their hands and encouraging their kids to do the same. They can even use a hand-washing song to make the experience more fun!
To encourage a better sense of mental wellness, parents can also teach their kids to listen to their emotions and find healthy ways to communicate and cope with them. Per Scripps.org, some other healthy habits include:
Limiting screen time
Reading every day
Incorporating physical activity into daily life
Getting outside as much as possible
Eating a balanced breakfast
Including fruits and veggies with every meal
Please contact Angelyn Dodson at Westminster Academy with any questions about our school’s wellness lessons.
