Every Kid Healthy Week
Every Kid Health Week celebrates school health and wellness achievements. Each day of the week shines a spotlight on the great actions schools and families are taking to improve the health and wellness of their kids and the link between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn and thrive!
Help celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week by promoting emotional wellness, good nutrition, and physical activity with your own family – healthy habits start at home!
Mindful Monday – Take a Listening Walk
Go someplace, even your backyard, and walk together in silence, listening for sounds you typically overlook: leaves rustling, a pine cone falling from a tree, your own steady breath. To enhance the quietest sounds (and make it more fun), you can turn paper cups into amplifiers by cutting a hole in the sides of two cups and hooking them over your ears, drinking side facing forward.
Tasty Tuesday - Host a Family Taste Test
Pick a spot for your taste test. Maybe the kitchen table or outside on a picnic blanket. Not so nice weather? Set up a picnic taste test on the living room floor!
Dress up, play music, add in games and recipes that align with your theme! Voyage to a seaside dinner by playing tropical music, wearing summery clothes and testing out tropical recipes. Explore the mountains with a camping theme by cooking foil packet recipes, baking s’mores and telling campfire stories around a picnic on the floor.
Ask each family member to categorize each new food they taste. Categories can include but are not limited to: “I Love It”, “I Like It”, or “I Tried It”. Talk to children about appropriate and respectful methods to communicate their likes and dislikes with others. Teach children to respect others’ preferences even if they may differ from their own.
Wellness Wednesday – Be a Healthy Role Model
Limit screen time and use of devices. Role model healthy screen time consumption by setting a timer for yourself and your children while watching television or playing video games. Limit the amount of time spent on phone apps or the computer and engage in structured activities for free play together as a family. Disconnect from work as close to a routine schedule as possible and limit distractions by turning off notifications or shutting off devices during family time. Remember that it is okay to use screen time as a way to wind-down, but try to balance with art projects, physical play time, or reading. When children are engaging in screen time – join in with them and invite them to share their thoughts and takeaways.
Thoughtful Thursday – Perform a random act (or two) of kindness
Brainstorm with your family some ways to brighten a stranger’s day. It could be leaving a nice note or piece of art on a doorstep or windshield, making handmade cards for nursing home residents, or picking up litter on a neighborhood walk or at a local park.
Fitness Friday – Have a Family Dance Party!
Find a wide open space for your family to move freely. Move furniture to make space if possible.
Select upbeat songs and have fun mixing it up with different genres and styles of music.
Add in scarves, ribbons or glow sticks to wave. Balloons, hula hoops, and brooms are fun too!
Teach each other new dance moves!
Add in some friendly competition:
Who can make up the best dance routine?
Who will win the dancing Simon Says?
Who has the best dance facial expressions?
Who can sing all the lyrics to a song?
Who has the most creative costume?
Resources: Actions for Healthy Kids
Information contributed by Stacey Murphy, Care Coordinator Supervisor.
