Best Practices to Support Mental Health for Children and Youth…Play your way to Positive Mental Health
Part 2 of a 4 Part Series
(Part 1 of the Series can be found as an earlier post on the HPEC blog. Look back at February 14, 2019)
Submitted by: Stacey Hannay, HPEC Comprehensive School Health
Expanding the conversation with Priscilla Asamoah (MEd, RPC) from Alberta Health
Services in our discussion on “best practices” for teachers’. We opened up the first of
our series with Love, Empathy and Connections providing some simple quick tips
to navigate resources and tools that would best serve teachers in their quests
to promote safe and caring learning environments for students around mental
health. Our second series shall take us into the realm of movement, making the
meaningful connection between mind and body.
Being physically active is a key part of good health for all school- aged children.
Physical activity is not only helpful for the body but also for the mind.
Physical activity releases endorphins that often improve mood. Being active can
help to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. Being active can help one to,
feel a sense of control, increase energy, increase self-confidence and
self-esteem, improve concentration levels, improves sleep patterns and most of
all play leads to fun.
The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth outlines how
much children and youth need to sweat, step, sleep, and sit each day for optimal health.
School-aged children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to
vigorous physical activity each day. According to ParticipACTION, only nine per
cent of children get enough heart-pumping physical activity. These guidelines
are relevant to healthy children and youth (aged 5–17 years) irrespective of
gender, race, ethnicity, or the socio-economic status of the family. Children
and youth are encouraged to live an active lifestyle with a daily balance of
sleep, sedentary behaviors, and physical activities that supports their healthy
development.
A reminder that healthy habits start to develop early in life and through positive
interactions and deliberate learning opportunities, school communities and
families can help children and youth to establish routines that enable them to develop in
healthy ways.
The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth
ParticipACTION – Global Matrix 3.0 Canadian Kids need to be more active during the School Day
Play your way to Positive Mental Health Caregiver Handout:
Play your way to Positive Mental Health Video:
