Student well-being

Are our students graduating school healthier than how they entered? Those of us working in schools have about 14 years to improve their health, yet obesity and mental health issues have gone up.

Of course, it is not the sole responsibility of the school system; parents and communities also play a vital role in improving our citizens’ health. With that in mind, schools do need to change and adapt to today’s world. Schools need to cater to the current needs of the community. We need to become health hubs.

Children need to satisfy their immediate needs in order to learn. I strongly believe daily physical activity, healthy learning objectives, developing self-regulation techniques and a strong community can help our students' well-being.

The whole child approach is becoming more and more popular in schools. To teach the whole child means to respect the four domains of well-being in the school environment. The four domains are: cognitive, emotional, social and physical. They are interconnected. That’s a great thing because it means every teacher is now just as responsible as the physical education teacher for improving the students’ health and wellness. (ActiveforLife.ca)

edu.gov.on.ca

Children and students who have strong relationships and a positive sense of self are in a better position to reach their full potential. If any of the 4 domains are faltering it'll become harder for the student to take ownership of their learning.