Resources geared to get youth moving
Recent studies show that one in four B.C. children between the ages of
2 and 17 is overweight or obese. That includes more than 150,000 children
in B.C. public and independent schools – equivalent to the population
of Regina or Richmond. And every one of those children has an increased
risk of diabetes, early puberty and low self-esteem.
We know every move is a good move towards reversing this trend and improving
the lives of B.C.’s children, which is why the government has introduced
new parent and teacher resources to encourage children and youth to be
more physically active.
The new ActNow BC parent and teacher resources include:
Healthy Living for Families guides – Every student will receive
a booklet with tips and ideas on how to help children and youth be physically
active and eat nutritiously. Three different booklets are aimed at parents
of students in grades K-3, 4-7 and 8-9. A fourth guide is aimed at students
in grades 10-12 to help them make their own healthy choices. The booklets
are available in B.C. schools and can be downloaded
online.
Health Matters teacher resources – These new learning resources
contain materials that will help students learn more about active living
and healthy eating. The resources will be aligned with the health and
career education curricula for grades K-7, 8-9 and Planning 10. The resources
have been piloted and tested for grades 8 to 10 and will be ready for
implementation in September. Health Matters for kindergarten through
Grade 7 will be field tested in this fall and ready for implementation
in September 2008.
In October 2006, the ministries of Education and Health launched the
Healthy Schools
Network. It’s a voluntary organization of people
whose common goal is to support and improve overall student health through
schools. Over the next year, network members will work with the Province
to develop provincial healthy living performance standards that will
outline appropriate health knowledge for each grade level.
By helping and encouraging children and youth to be physically active,
we are helping to ensure that they will live longer, happier lives.
|
