Schools Need to Teach More Healthy Habits
These days, more and more people are suffering from lifestyle-related illnesses. These health issues can have lasting impacts on their happiness and quality of life. Schools can help curb these problems by teaching students more healthy habits.
By implementing a curriculum that integrates more health and wellness concepts, we educators can help our students truly thrive. It’s important to understand that just like reading and writing, schools must cultivate healthy habits early.
Here are a few concepts that teachers could easily incorporate into their lessons. Some of these tips might seem obvious, but it’s because we’ve already learned them!
Eat a Balanced Diet
Life is busy, and parents often don’t have time to prepare balanced meals with their family. But in school, there are many opportunities to incorporate healthy eating habits.
Schools can introduce simple cooking classes making salads and smoothies, vegetable gardens could be planted, and healthy eating concepts could be integrated into core curriculum lessons.
Get Enough Sleep
When was the last time you discussed good sleep hygiene in your class? Most people don’t know the benefits of slowing down before bed and respecting their circadian rhythm.
Preschool teachers could start these life lessons every day before naptime, and high school teachers could ensure that their students are including wind-down time in their daily planners. Healthy sleep habits would be invaluable for high school students preparing for university.
Teach Stress Management Tools
Everyone handles stress differently. For some people, a rush of endorphins from a workout is enough to help refocus and release tension. For others, it’s taking time to disconnect and do something with their hands.
At a young age, students should learn how to manage stress. Everyone can benefit from learning to understand what helps them recenter, relax and manage overwhelming feelings.
Sometimes it’s as easy as a few deep breaths, meditation, or spending time with friends that help them feel supported.
About the Author
Hello, I’m Kevin Asher Karnes. I’m a certified English Language Arts and Career and Technical Education teacher at Polytechnic Senior High School in Fort Worth, Texas. I teach beginning to advanced level courses for children in grades 9 thru 12.
As a teacher, my goal is to help my students develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. I design my lessons to accommodate all learning styles and strive to maintain a safe classroom environment that encourages curiosity, risk-taking, and the sharing of ideas.
In addition to managing my classes, I’m the assistant chair of my department, the sponsor of the Content Creator’s Club, a Junior Achievement International Educator, and an ESL and TEFL certified tutor for English learners.
I hold a BA in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, both from the University of Massachusetts. I’m a highly qualified teacher in the state of Texas, certified in English Language Arts and Reading Grades 7 - 12, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science Grades 8 - 12, and English as a Second Language Grades 7 - 12.
In my free time, I enjoy photography, downhill skiing, and cooking with friends.