Is your child's school healthy?
You send your child off to school with a smile and your best intentions, hoping he or she will get a good education and learn valuable life skills. It's true; school is a great place for children to learn about reading, writing, math, science and friendship. But some parents are concerned that their children aren't learning enough about healthy lifestyles while sitting in a classroom. Good nutrition and physical education should be a part of every child's school experience. That's why the Heart and Stroke Foundation is advocating to make schools healthier. "Our position is that schools are an important place to encourage healthy behaviours and habits in children," Says Stephen Samis, Director of Health Policy for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "We are facing an epidemic of overweight and obesity in Canada and schools represent one important setting where we can address that."
What makes a school healthy? The Heart and Stroke Foundation endorses these policies, based on international research: A healthy school is one that:
- Implements Daily Physical Activity (DPA). DPA must consist of at least 20 minutes of sustained moderate to vigorous physical activity every school day for students in Grades one to eight that is scheduled during instructional time and is in addition to the required health and physical education program. There should be a plan of action for days when outdoor play is not possible. Take this Heart&Stroke 25 Fun Activities Poster to your child's teacher.
- Does not allow recess to be withheld as a form of discipline.
- Encourages fundraising efforts that promote physical activity within the school, home or community such as Jump Rope for Heart.
- Supports equal access to physical activity for all students including those who have special physical or mental needs.
- Identifies teaching practices that help create a healthy school environment. For example, the teachers’ guides in Health Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Children can be used and promoted by school officials to increase physical activity in the school.
- Provides healthy food options and educates students about balanced nutrition.
Does your child's school meet these requirements? To see how your school rates, fill out this questionnaire.
What parents can do to encourage a healthy living school
If the questionnaire reveals that your child's school is not as healthy as you would like, here are some ways you can work toward improvement.
1. Work with teachers and the principal
Encourage teachers to participate in physical activity training and ask the principal to recommend resources that are developed to promote physical activity in students. Recommend that teachers not be able to withhold recess or lunch hours as a punishment because this reinforces that physical activity is not as important as other school activities such as reading or math. Ask what lunch hour and recess activities can be encouraged to promote active school yard play for children of all ages.
