©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 1 Children’s Well-being: What It Is and How to Achieve It

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Preventive Health This concept emphasizes the importance of assuming responsibility for one’s personal well-being. –On a personal level—preventive health practices include following a nutritious diet, participating in physical activity, keeping immunizations current, wearing seat belts, avoiding substance abuse, and the like.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Preventive Health (continued) –On a social level—citizens have a collective responsibility to support practices that promote the health of all individuals, such as establishing food safety standards, water fluoridation, regulating air pollution and pesticide use, and advocating for child safety seat legislation.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. National Preventive Health Initiatives National health initiatives and programs that support and promote children’s well- being: –Healthy People 2020 –National Children’s Agenda –Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. National Preventive Health Initiatives (continued) –Healthy Child Care America –National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Child Care –No Child Left Behind –Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) –National Children’s Study Can you think of others?

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. In What Ways Are Health, Safety, and Nutrition Interrelated? Although each component is important by itself, all three must be considered collectively. Each component influences the state and quality of the others.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. What Is Health? Health is a state of physical, social, economic, emotional, cultural, and spiritual well-being. –How might these qualities affect each other and also influence an individual’s health?

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. What Is Health? (continued) Health is determined by the dynamic interaction of genetics and environmental factors. The quality of a person’s health is always changing. In what ways can teachers promote children’s health?

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Safety The term safety refers to the behaviors and practices that reduce the risk of unintentional injury. Why must teachers be aware of children’s safety issues? –Unintentional injuries are responsible for the majority of childhood deaths.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Nutrition Food provides nutrients that are essential for growth, energy, protection from illness and disease, and ongoing tissue repair. Food insecurity and unhealthy dietary practices can lead to malnutrition and/or obesity. Children’s behavior is also affected by the quality of their diet.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Growth & Development The term growth refers to the range of physical changes, such as eruption of teeth, growing taller, gaining weight, and vision that take place as a child matures. Growth involves the interaction of genetic potential and environmental factors.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Growth & Development The term development describes changes that occur in the complexity of children’s physical, cognitive, social-emotional, motor, and language abilities. Development involves an interactive process of maturation and opportunity (to experience and practice).

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Oral Health What purpose do teeth serve? –Chewing –Maintaining space for permanent teeth –Helping to shape the jaw –Speech What practices are important for promoting children’s oral health?

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Social-Emotional Competence Social-emotional competence refers to the way a child thinks, feels, and acts on a daily basis. It affects how a child handles stress, communicates, and makes decisions. It ultimately influences a child’s self- concept and self-esteem.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children’s Mental Health One in five children/adolescents have mental health disorders. One in 10 have a serious emotional disturbance that disrupts daily functioning. When early problems are not treated, they can contribute to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, depression, and suicide.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Signs of Mental Health Problems Uncontrollable anger Prolonged feelings of hopelessness or sadness Extreme fearfulness or anxiousness Difficulty concentrating or remaining focused Persistent nightmares Eating disorders Uncontrollable anger Violent or aggressive behaviors (e.g., setting fires, killing animals, hurting others)

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Promoting Children’s Social- Emotional Competence Be a positive role model. Create environments that are supportive, responsive, and respectful. Teach children effective social, communication, and problem-solving skills. Recognize signs of emotional problems and refer children early.

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Children and Bullying Why do some children bully others? What groups of children are more likely to be victimized? What is cyber bullying and what can families do to protect children?

©2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Building Resiliency Foster supportive, nurturing environments and positive parenting skills. Help children develop effective social, communication, and problem-solving skills. Model appropriate behaviors. Offer praise and encouragement. Respect children and avoid being biased or judgmental.