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Healthy Workplaces
Staying Healthy as You Move Into Retirement Vital Steps Towards a Healthy, Active Workday Work Day Wellness: Choose Healthy Options When Eating Out Active Commuting – Cycling to Work! Energize Your Workplace! Health-related Workplace Policies Yoga at Work Offering Information to Employees About Healthy, Active Living Encouraging Employees to be Physically Active at Local Events Using a Pedometer at Work Setting a Healthy Pace at Work Launching and Sustaining a Workplace Wellness Program Healthy Eating at Work Taking Active Breaks at Work The dangers of too much sitting Treating and avoiding hand and wrist pain The Afternoon Slump Physical Activity for Busy People If I Have an Active Job, Why Should I Be Active Outside Work? Conquering Back Pain with Physical Activity Does your workplace support physical activity? What Are You Sitting on? Using Exercise Balls at Work Shift Work: Getting Enough Sleep and Physical Activity Office Ergonomics: Key to Health and Safety in the Workplace Work-Life Balance: “Getting There” Help! My Workplace Is Driving Me Crazy! Putting Together a Wellness Plan What is Workplace Wellness? Workplace Wellness: Small vs. Big Business Options

Healthy Communities
Bringing Life and Fresh Activities to Community Spaces Ideas for Boosting Trail Usage in Your Community Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Living at Community Events Positive Steps to Boost Your Mental Well-Being Fun Physical Activities for Families Eating Well Anytime, Anywhere Starting a Community Walking Group Gardening and Your Community Buying Healthy Foods in My Community Discover the Joy of Cycling Outdoor Playspaces Promote Healthy Kids and Communities Making the Connection: Physical Activities and the Environment ACE Communities: Igniting Change in Rural Alberta How Walkable Communities Are Created Promoting Accessible and Active Communities Understanding Health and Wellness from the Perspective of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada Connecting with the outdoors Community Leaders: Making Good Things Happen Welcoming Newcomers to Alberta Bringing the Community Together With Multicultural Activities Building Self-Esteem Through Sports Funding Community Recreation Projects Cultural Diversity: Including Everyone in Physical Activity Active Transportation Maximizing the Benefits of Recreation Community Gardens: Being Active With Your Neighbours What is an Active, Healthy Community? Getting Active Outdoors in Your Community How Can I Make My Community a Healthy Active Place?

Profiling Healthy Places
2010 Profiles

A school cannot work alone to create a healthy school community. Such a community is a result of school and family working together. So, as a parent, you have a very important role to play. It’s within your power to help make dramatic improvements to the health of your school.

This article gives you ideas about how you can help your school community get healthier in the areas of eating, physical activity and mental health.

Savour Healthy Eating
There are many ways for parents to get involved with improving the nutritional environment of their kids’ schools. You can start with packing healthy lunches and move up to influencing the nutrition policy for your school district.

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Start small and see what happens! Here are some ideas:

Lead by example. Pack healthy snacks and lunches for your kids. Ask them what they are learning about nutrition in school. Discuss which healthy foods they like. Consider creating a parent-driven cookbook sharing favourite recipes.

Check out Alberta’s Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth. Did you know Alberta has healthy eating guidelines for children and youth? What’s really neat about these guidelines is that they include detailed advice for how schools can improve their food options. There’s a link to these guidelines, as well as other helpful resources, at the end of this article.

Work on improving food options at school events. From parent/teacher meetings to track meets to band concerts, many school events feature unhealthy food. Get together with other parents on your parent council and explore healthier options. You could start with the snacks at your own meetings!

Inquire about your school district’s healthy eating policy. Contact your principal or school district to find out what healthy eating policies are in place. Write a letter on behalf of the parent council to school trustees encouraging them to examine nutrition in schools. A number of school authorities in Alberta have developed nutrition policies, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Jump into Physical Activity
According to Active Healthy Kids Canada, only about 13 per cent of Canadian children are meeting the recommendation from Canada’s Physical Activity Guide for Children of physical activity 90 minutes a day.

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Try the following ideas to help your school community get more active:

Ask teachers and administration about what physical education your child receives. Physical education is very important. It can provide the knowledge, skills and attitudes for students to be active long after their schooling is over.

Ask how your school is meeting the government requirement for 30 minutes of daily physical activity (DPA). Daily physical activity can happen in physical education class or in designated “DPA time.” Kids need to move more, and DPA can help add to the number of minutes they are active.

Be physically active at home. Join in physical activity with your kids. You can ride bikes, go for walks, play sports, play games like tag, and much more. Also take time for your own personal physical activity. This will send a powerful message to your kids about the importance of being active.

Encourage the parent council to support physical activity in the school. The parent council can raise funds and lobby for a school environment supportive of activity. Possible initiatives: active field trips like hiking and equipment for physical education.

Remember Mental Health
Mental wellness is an important ingredient for a healthy school community.

It can be hard to pin down exactly what to do to improve this area, but parents can play a critical role by encouraging awareness of mental health issues, being involved in the school community and supporting their kids at home.

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Ideas for helping to improve mental health:

Find out what mental health support is available. Check with your local health services provider to see what is available in your area for school mental health support. Book a presentation for the parent council and staff.

Be aware of stressful times and help your kids deal with them. Exams and other events like the beginning of the year can be stressful. Remember to support your kids a little more during those tough times.

Take care of your own mental health! Sometimes it’s easy to neglect yourself when you’re busy with family, work and life in general. But remember to invest in your own mental health too. Take time to relax. If you’re having problems, seek help.

Encourage school staff to access professional development in this area. Mental health is something all staff should be aware of, not just the counsellor or administration.

From healthy snacks at the parent council meeting to fundraising for physical education equipment to taking care of your own mental health, parents can and do make a huge difference in the health of a school community. Advocate for school health, involve others and begin the journey towards better health!

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Learn More

Edmonton Public Schools Policies on Health and Wellness
Check out these policies on student health from Edmonton Public Schools.

Red Deer Public Schools Nutrition Policy
Another good example of health policy from Red Deer Public Schools.

Helpful Resources for Parents
Alberta Education has lots of information for parents on the Alberta curriculum. Topics covered include physical education and daily physical activity (DPA).

Ever Active Schools
Ever Active Schools is a provincial organization that helps to build healthy school communities. Sign your school up as an associate member, be part of your school’s committee and check out success stories. Listing of Nutrition Policies

Alberta Mental Health Board: Mental Health for Children and Youth
Check out Alberta’s many mental health supports for children and youth.

Alberta School Councils’ Association
This provincial association representing parents on school councils connects parents to advocacy tools, information and more.

Active Healthy Kids Canada
Each year, Active Healthy Kids Canada releases report cards on the activity levels of Canadian kids. Find these on the website as well as presentations, statistics and other resources.

Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth
The Government of Canada’s official physical activity guidelines for children (6-9 years old) and youth (10-14 years old).

Canada’s Food Guide
The Government of Canada’s official food guide for eating healthy.

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