Promoting Health in Young Adolescents EMD 335 | Newberry College

Promoting Health in Young Adolescents Define health and think about why it’s so important in middle school. Look at some real-life examples of wellness programs and activities. Brainstorm what we can do to promote wellness.

NMSA Characteristic School-wide efforts and policies that foster health, wellness, and safety (TWBA, pp )

Health-promoting schools are essential to the academic and personal success of young adolescents. This places a fundamental status to the placement of health in exploratory, related arts, or family and consumer life skills education. - TWBA, p. 154

Reasons to promote wellness 1.Poor health practices drain resources. 2.Behavioral, physical, and emotional problems interfere with learning. 3.Youthful choices affect health.

Health problems are generally holistic. Solutions must be as well. Addressing one symptom and ignoring all the others or the problem itself has almost no chance of creating change.

TWBA Video Clips Health, Wellness, and Safety  “Morning Exercise”  “Nutrition Break”  “Physical Fitness”

What can we do? Collaborate with community organizations. Weave positive health practices and messages into the curriculum. Create a healthy school environment. (Assess your school – see Wisconsin DPI instrument on TWBA pp ) Research and develop a coordinated school health system. Teach/practice negotiation, coping, decision-making, and refusal skills. Advocate for student health needs with parents and in the community.

Teachers are often students’ only models of health and wellness

Check class wiki.